Irish Grand National

Irish National Hunt steeplechase handicap horse race held at Fairyhouse racecourse annually

This article is about the horse race. For the greyhound race, see Grand National (Irish greyhounds).

Horse race

Irish Grand NationalClass| Grade A

|

Location| Fairyhouse
County Meath, Ireland
Inaugurated| 1870
Race type| Steeplechase
Sponsor| Boylesports
Website| [1]
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
Irish Grand National Chase  2025

|  |
Haiti Couleurs  | Any Second Now  | Quai De Bourbon
Previous years

2024
|  |
Intense Raffles  | Any Second Now  | Minella Cocooner
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

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.

It is the Irish equivalent of the Grand National, and it is held during Fairyhouse's Easter Festival meeting.

## History

[edit]

The 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]

Most successful horse (3 wins):

* 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

In 1880 William Brophy completed a unique double by owning the winner of both the Irish Derby with King of the Bees and the Irish Grand National with Controller. Also uniquely both winners were out of the same Dam Winged Bee.

## Winners since 1946

[edit]

* Weights given in stones and pounds.

Year
| Winner
| Age
| Weight
| Jockey
| Trainer

|
|
|
|
|

1946 | Golden View II | 11 | 12-07 | Martin Molony | R O'Connell
1947 | Revelry | 7 | 11-05 | Dan Moore | J Doyle
1948 | Hamstar | 8 | 09-07 | E Kennedy | Willie O'Grady
1949 | Shagreen | 8 | 10-00 | E Newman | Tom Dreaper
1950 | Dominick's Bar | 6 | 10-06 | Martin Molony | Tim Hyde
1951 | Icy Calm | 8 | 10-03 | P Doyle | Willie O'Grady
1952 | Alberoni | 9 | 10-01 | L Stephens | Vincent O'Brien
1953 | Overshadow | 13 | 10-04 | A Power | C Magnier
1954 | Royal Approach | 6 | 12-00 | Pat Taaffe | Tom Dreaper
1955 | Umm | 8 | 10-05 | Pat Taaffe | G Wells
1956 | Air Prince | 12 | 10-00 | T O'Brien | J McClintock
1957 | Kilballyown | 10 | 09-10 | Willie Robinson | P Norris
1958 | Gold Legend | 8 | 09-07 | J Lehane | J Brogan
1959 | Zonda | 8 | 10-06 | Pat Taaffe | Matt Geraghty
1960  | Olympia | 6  | 09-11  | Toss Taaffe | Tom Dreaper
1961  | Fortria | 9  | 09-12  | Pat Taaffe | Tom Dreaper
1962  | Kerforo | 8  | 10-03  | Liam McLoughlin | Tom Dreaper
1963  | Last Link | 7  | 09-09  | Paddy Woods | Tom Dreaper
1964  | Arkle | 7  | 12-00  | Pat Taaffe | Tom Dreaper
1965  | Splash | 7  | 10-13  | Paddy Woods | Tom Dreaper
1966  | Flyingbolt | 7  | 12-07  | Pat Taaffe | Tom Dreaper
1967  | Vulpine | 6  | 11-06  | Matt Curran | Paddy Mullins
1968  | Herring Gull | 6  | 11-06  | John Crowley | Paddy Mullins
1969  | Sweet Dreams | 8  | 09-10  | Bobby Coonan | Kevin Bell
1970  | Garoupe | 6  | 09-09  | Cathal Finnegan  | Francis Flood
1971  | Kings Sprite | 9  | 09-13  | Arthur Moore | Georgie Wells
1972  | Dim Wit | 7  | 10-13  | Matt Curran | Paddy Mullins
1973  | Tartan Ace | 6  | 09-07  | Jackie Cullen | Tom Costello
1974  | Colebridge | 10  | 11-12  | Eddie Wright | Jim Dreaper
1975  | Brown Lad | 9  | 10-05  | Tommy Carberry | Jim Dreaper
1976  | Brown Lad | 10  | 12-02  | Tommy Carberry | Jim Dreaper
1977  | Billycan | 7  | 10-00  | Mouse Morris | Adrian Maxwell
1978  | Brown Lad | 12  | 12-02  | Gerry Dowd | Jim Dreaper
1979  | Tied Cottage | 11  | 10-12  | Tony Robinson[a] | Dan Moore
1980  | Daletta | 7  | 11-04  | John Harty | Guy Williams
1981  | Luska | 7  | 09-09  | T. V. Finn  | Paddy Mullins
1982  | King Spruce | 8  | 10-02  | Gerry Newman | Michael O'Brien
1983  | Bit of a Skite | 7  | 09-07  | Tommy Ryan | Edward O'Grady
1984  | Bentom Boy | 9  | 09-09  | Ann Ferris[a] | Willie Rooney
1985  | Rhyme 'n' Reason | 6  | 10-06  | Graham Bradley | David Murray Smith
1986  | Insure | 8  | 09-07  | Mickey Flynn | Pat Hughes
1987  | Brittany Boy | 8  | 10-10  | Tom Taaffe | Kelvin Hitchmough
1988  | Perris Valley | 7  | 10-00  | Brendan Sheridan | Dermot Weld
1989  | Maid of Money | 7  | 11-06  | Anthony Powell | John Fowler
1990  | Desert Orchid | 11  | 12-00  | Richard Dunwoody | David Elsworth
1991  | Omerta | 11  | 10-09  | Adrian Maguire | Martin Pipe
1992  | Vanton | 8  | 10-11  | Jason Titley | Michael O'Brien
1993  | Ebony Jane | 8  | 10-07  | Charlie Swan | Francis Flood
1994  | Son of War | 7  | 10-10  | Francis Woods | Peter McCreery
1995  | Flashing Steel | 10  | 12-00  | Jamie Osborne | John Mulhern
1996  | Feathered Gale | 9  | 10-00  | Francis Woods | Arthur Moore
1997  | Mudahim | 11  | 10-03  | Jason Titley | Jenny Pitman
1998  | Bobbyjo | 8  | 11-03  | Paul Carberry | Tommy Carberry
1999  | Glebe Lad | 7  | 10-00  | Tom Rudd | Michael O'Brien
2000  | Commanche Court | 7  | 11-04  | Ruby Walsh | Ted Walsh
2001  | Davids Lad | 7  | 10-00  | Timmy Murphy | Tony Martin
2002  | The Bunny Boiler | 8  | 09-09  | Ross Geraghty | Noel Meade
2003  | Timbera | 9  | 10-12  | Jim Culloty | Dessie Hughes
2004  | Granit d'Estruval | 10  | 10-00  | Brian Harding | Ferdy Murphy
2005  | Numbersixvalverde | 9  | 10-01  | Ruby Walsh | Martin Brassil
2006  | Point Barrow | 8  | 10-08  | Philip Carberry | Pat Hughes
2007  | Butler's Cabin | 7  | 10-04  | Tony McCoy | Jonjo O'Neill
2008  | Hear the Echo | 7  | 10-00  | Paddy Flood | Mouse Morris
2009  | Niche Market | 8  | 10-05  | Harry Skelton | Bob Buckler
2010  | Bluesea Cracker | 8  | 10-04  | Andrew McNamara | James Motherway
2011  | Organisedconfusion | 6  | 09-13  | Nina Carberry[a] | Arthur Moore
2012  | Lion Na Bearnai | 10  | 10-05  | Andrew Thornton | Thomas Gibney
2013  | Liberty Counsel | 10  | 09-05  | Ben Dalton | Dot Love
2014  | Shutthefrontdoor | 7  | 10-13  | Barry Geraghty | Jonjo O'Neill
2015  | Thunder And Roses | 7  | 10-06  | Katie Walsh[a] | Sandra Hughes
2016  | Rogue Angel  | 8  | 10-06  | Ger Fox  | Mouse Morris
2017  | Our Duke  | 7  | 11-04  | Robbie Power | Jessica Harrington
2018  | General Principle  | 9  | 10-00  | JJ Slevin | Gordon Elliott
2019  | Burrows Saint  | 6  | 10-08  | Ruby Walsh | Willie Mullins
2020  | no race [b] |  |  |  |
2021  | Freewheelin Dylan  | 9  | 10-08  | Ricky Doyle  | Dermot McLoughlin
2022  | Lord Lariat  | 7  | 09-12  | PJ O'Hanlon  | Dermot McLoughlin
2023  | I Am Maximus  | 7  | 11-01  | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins
2024  | Intense Raffles  | 6  | 11-04  | JJ Slevin | Thomas Gibney
2025  | Haiti Couleurs  | 8  | 10-13  | Sean Bowen | Rebecca Curtis

1. ^ a b c d amateur jockey
2. ^ The 2020 running was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland[3]

## Earlier 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

[edit]

* Horse racing in Ireland
* List of Irish National Hunt races

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "The Dubs' Day Out". Carlow Nationalist. 7 April 2004. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
2. ^ O'Hehir, Tony. "Boylesports to sponsor Irish Grand National". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
3. ^ Wood, Greg (28 August 2020). "Irish Grand National cancelled for 2020 amid uncertainty over spectators". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 August 2020.

* * *

* Racing Post:
* 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
* 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
* 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
* 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

* pedigreequery.com – Irish Grand National – Fairyhouse.
* tbheritage.com – Irish Grand National winners.

## Further reading

[edit]

Peters, 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.].

* v
* t
* e

Easter Festival

* Donohue Marquees Juvenile Hurdle
* Devenish Chase
* Honeysuckle Mares Novice Hurdle
* WillowWarm Gold Cup
* Irish Grand National
* Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Hurdle

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template