The Irish Grand National is a National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Fairyhouse over a distance of about 3 miles and 5 furlongs (5,834 metres), and during its running there are twenty-four fences to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year on Easter Monday.
| Grade A race | |
| Location | Fairyhouse County Meath, Ireland |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1870 |
| Race type | Steeplechase |
| Sponsor | Boylesports |
| Website | Fairyhouse |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 3m 5f (5,834 metres) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Right-handed |
| Qualification | Five-years-old and up |
| Weight | Handicap |
| Purse | €500,000 (2019) 1st: €270,000 |
| 2024 | ||
 |  |  |
| Intense Raffles | Any Second Now | Minella Cocooner |
| Previous years | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | ||
|  |  |
| I Am Maximus | Gevrey | Defi Bleu |
| 2022 | ||
 | |  |
| Lord Lariat | Frontal Assault | Gaillard Du Mesnil |
| 2021 | ||
 |  |  |
| Freewheelin Dylan | Run Wild Fred | Enjoy D'allen |
| 2020-2011 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | ||
 |  |  |
| Burrows Saint | Isleofhopendreams | Acapella Bourgeois |
| 2018 | ||
 | |  |
| General Principle | Isleofhopendreams | Forever Gold |
| 2017 | ||
 |  |  |
| Our Duke | Bless The Wings | Abolitionist |
| 2016 | ||
| |  |
| Rogue Angel | Bless The Wings | Ballyadam Approach |
| 2015 | ||
 | |  |
| Thunder And Roses | Rule The World | Sizing Coal |
| 2014 | ||
|  |  |
| Shutthefrontdoor | Golden Wonder | Saoirse Dun |
| 2013 | ||
 |  |  |
| Liberty Counsel | Away We Go | Home Farm |
| 2012 | ||
 |  | |
| Lion Na Bearnai | Out Now | Alfie Sherrin |
| 2011 | ||
 |  | |
| Organisedconfusion | Western Charmer | Sunnyhillboy |
| 2010-2001 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | ||
 |  |  |
| Bluesea Cracker | Oscar Time | Whatuthink |
| 2009 | ||
 |  |  |
| Niche Market | Church Island | A New Story |
| 2008 | ||
|  |  |
| Hear The Echo | Royal County Star | Notre Pere |
| 2007 | ||
|  |  |
| Butler's Cabin | Nine De Sivola | American Jennie |
| 2006 | ||
 |  | |
| Point Barrow | Oulart | A New Story |
| 2005 | ||
 |  |  |
| Numbersixvalverde | Jack High | Marcus Du Berlais |
| 2004 | ||
 | |  |
| Granit d'Estruval | Marcus Du Berlais | Golden Storm |
| 2003 | ||
 |  |  |
| Timbera | Knock Knock | Winning Dream |
| 2002 | ||
 |  |  |
| The Bunny Boiler | Give Over | Northern Sound |
| 2001 | ||
 |  |  |
| Davids Lad | Rathbawn Prince | Sheltering |
| 2000-1991 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | ||
 |  |  |
| Commanche Court | Foxchapel King | Irish Light |
| 1999 | ||
 |  |  |
| Glebe Lad | Feathered Leader | Manus The Man |
| 1998 | ||
 |  |  |
| Bobbyjo | Papillon | Call It A Day |
| 1997 | ||
 |  |  |
| Mudahim | Amble Speedy | The Grey Monk |
| 1996 | ||
 |  |  |
| Feathered Gale | Jodami | Cool Dawn |
| 1995 | ||
 |  |  |
| Flashing Steel | Rust Never Sleeps | Feathered Gale |
| 1994 | ||
 |  |  |
| Son Of War | Nuaffe | Ebony Jane |
| 1993 | ||
| |  |
| Ebony Jane | Rust Never Sleeps | Zeta's Lad |
| 1992 | ||
 |  |  |
| Vanton | Over The Road | River Tarquin |
| 1991 | ||
 |  |  |
| Omerta | Cahervillahow | Cool Ground |
| 1990-1988 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | ||
 |  |  |
| Desert Orchid | Barney Burnett | Have A Barney |
| 1989 | ||
 |  | |
| Maid Of Money | Candy Well | Have A Barney |
| 1988 | ||
 |  |  |
| Perris Valley | Captain Batnac | Feltrim Hill Lad |
It is the Irish equivalent of the Grand National, and it is held during Fairyhouse's Easter Festival meeting.
History
editThe event was established in 1870, and the inaugural running was won by a horse called Sir Robert Peel. The race took place at its present venue, and the winner's prize money was 167 sovereigns. In the early part of its history it was often won by horses trained at the Curragh, and there were ten such winners by 1882. The Easter Monday fixture regularly attracted racegoers from Dublin, and it became known as the Dubs' Day Out.[1]
Several winners of the Irish Grand National have also won its English counterpart at Aintree, but none in the same year. The first to complete the double was Ascetic's Silver, the winner of the latter version in 1906. The feat has been achieved more recently by Rhyme 'n' Reason, Bobbyjo, Numbersixvalverde and I Am Maximus. The most successful horse in the event's history is Brown Lad, a three-time winner in the 1970s.
Since 1991, the distance of the race has been 3 miles and 5 furlongs; previously it had been 3 miles and 4 furlongs.
The Irish Grand National was sponsored by Irish Distillers under various titles for many years up to 2010. Ladbrokes sponsored the race from 2011 to 2013. In 2014, Boylesports took over as Irish Grand National sponsor and appointed the jockey Barry Geraghty as the first ever ambassador for the race, promoting the race through various channels, including social media.[2]
Records
edit- Brown Lad – 1975, 1976, 1978
Leading jockey (6 wins):
- Pat Taaffe – Royal Approach (1954), Umm (1955), Zonda (1959), Fortria (1961), Arkle (1964), Flyingbolt (1966)
Leading trainer (10 wins):
- Tom Dreaper – Prince Regent (1942), Shagreen (1949), Royal Approach (1954), Olympia (1960), Fortria (1961), Kerforo (1962), Last Link (1963), Arkle (1964), Splash (1965), Flyingbolt (1966)
A Unique Racing Record - Only Owner to complete the Derby and Grand National Double
- William Brophy, Herbertstown House, Two-Mile-House, Naas, County Kildare. Farmer, Breeder and Owner
Winners since 1946
editEarlier winners
edit- 1870 – Sir Robert Peel
- 1871 – The Doe
- 1872 – Scots Grey
- 1873 – Torrent
- 1874 – Sailor
- 1875 – Scots Grey
- 1876 – Grand National
- 1877 – Thiggin-Thue
- 1878 – Juggler
- 1879 – Jupiter Tonans
- 1880 – Controller
- 1881 – Antoinette
- 1882 – Chantilly
- 1883 – The Gift
- 1884 – The Gift
- 1885 – Billet Doux
- 1886 – Castle Lucas
- 1887 – Eglentine
- 1888 – The Maroon
- 1889 – The Citadel
- 1890 – Greek Girl
- 1891 – Old Tom
- 1892 – Springfield Maid
- 1893 – Thurles
- 1894 – The Admiral
- 1895 – Yellow Girl II
- 1896 – Royston Crow
- 1897 – Breemount's Pride
- 1898 – Porridge
- 1899 – Princess Hilda
- 1900 – Mavis of Meath
- 1901 – Tipperary Boy
- 1902 – Patlander
- 1903 – Kirko
- 1904 – Ascetic's Silver
- 1905 – Red Lad
- 1906 – Brown Bess
- 1907 – Sweet Cecil
- 1908 – Lord Rivers
- 1909 – Little Hack II
- 1910 – Oniche
- 1911 – Repeator II
- 1912 – Small Polly
- 1913 – Little Hack II
- 1914 – Civil War
- 1915 – Punch
- 1916 – All Sorts
- 1917 – Pay Only
- 1918 – Ballyboggan
- 1919 – no race
- 1920 – Halston
- 1921 – Bohernore
- 1922 – Halston
- 1923 – Be Careful
- 1924 – Kilbarry
- 1925 – Dog Fox
- 1926 – Amberwave
- 1927 – Jerpoint
- 1928 – Don Sancho
- 1929 – Alike
- 1930 – Fanmond
- 1931 – Impudent Barney
- 1932 – Copper Court
- 1933 – Red Park
- 1934 – Poolgowran
- 1935 – Rathfriland
- 1936 – Alice Maythorn
- 1937 – Pontet
- 1938 – Clare County
- 1939 – Shaun Peel
- 1940 – Jack Chaucer
- 1941 – no race
- 1942 – Prince Regent
- 1943 – Golden Jack
- 1944 – Knight's Crest
- 1945 – Heirdom
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "The Dubs' Day Out". Carlow Nationalist. 7 April 2004. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
- ^ O'Hehir, Tony. "Boylesports to sponsor Irish Grand National". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ^ Wood, Greg (28 August 2020). "Irish Grand National cancelled for 2020 amid uncertainty over spectators". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
- pedigreequery.com – Irish Grand National – Fairyhouse.
- tbheritage.com – Irish Grand National winners.
Further reading
editPeters, Stewart (2007). The Irish Grand National: The History of Ireland's Premier Steeplechase. Stroud: STADIA. p. 144. ISBN 978-0-7524-3691-3.
Hyland, Francis P M; Williams, Guy St John (1995). Jameson Irish Grand National: a history of Ireland's premier steeplechase. The Organisation. p. 263. ISBN 978-0-9526902-0-7.
The Sweeney guide to the Irish turf from 1501 to 2001 /by Tony & Annie Sweeney in association with Francis Hyland ; photographs by Caroline Norris ... [et al.].