The highlight of Fairyhouse's Easter Festival is the Irish Grand National. This historic handicap was first run in 1870 and is traditionally held on Easter Monday.
Burrows Saint won the last renewal of the Irish Grand National in 2019. The 2020 edition was cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Our guide to the 2021 Irish Grand National will be published when the field has been finalised and the weights have been announced.
2021 Irish Grand National Runners
Four of the last six winners of this historic handicap were first-season chasers, and it's novices who dominate the betting in 2021. Topping the market is Latest Exhibition, who also holds an entry in the Grade One Ryanair Gold Cup the previous day.
Longhouse Poet, Run Wild Fred and Coko Beach all bypassed the Cheltenham Festival to focus on the Irish Grand National, and all three sit prominently in the betting. As does The Big Dog, who was last seen winning the Grand National Trial at Punchestown in February.
Tiger Roll has been handed a mark of 163 by the Irish Handicapper, a mark just three pounds lower than the "unfair rating" he was given by the British Handicapper that led to his Grand National withdrawal. The five-time Cheltenham Festival winner would have to carry top-weight if he did take up his Irish Grand National entry. Connections have, however, said a run in the Aintree Bowl was the most likely option.
Galvin and Escaria Ten have been entered in the Irish National, but an outing in the Scottish Grand National seems more likely for both.
Court Maid could run for Thomas Mullins. Willie Mullins could be represented by Agusta Gold, Brahma Bull, Cabaret Queen and Dragon D'Estruval.
Joseph O'Brien has handed entries to Home By The Lee and Sempo. Espanito Bello could take his chance for Barry Connell, while Off You Go could make his first start for new connections in the Irish Grand National.
Other names to highlight include Ten Ten, Forza Milan, Moyhenna, School Boy Hours, Discorama and Discordantly.
Irish Grand National Day Card
Time
Title
2:05pm
Novices' Handicap Hurdle
2:40pm
Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2)
3:15pm
Handicap Hurdle
3:50pm
Strawberry Hurdle (Grade 2)
4:20pm
Devenish Chase (Grade 2)
5:00pm
Irish Grand National (Grade A)
5:40pm
Handicap Chase
6:10pm
Pro/Am Flat Race
Irish Grand National History
The Irish Grand National was created in 1870, some 30 years after the British version of the Grand National was staged at Aintree for the first time.
This Grade Three handicap has always been held at Fairyhouse, and is traditionally staged on Easter Monday ever April.
As the Irish Grand National is staged around the same time as the Aintree Grand National, very few horses have attempted the audacious double. Ascetic's Silver won the Irish National in 1904, before completing the double at Aintree the following year.
Since then, three horses have managed the Irish and British Grand National double. Rhyme 'N' Reason achieved it during the 1980s, with the famous Bobbyjo completing the double in the late 1990s. The most recent horse to do the double was Numbersixvalverde, who won at Fairyhouse in 2005 and then again at Aintree the following year.
The most successfull horse in the history of the Irish Grand National is Brown Lad. Jim Dreaper's star won at Fairyhouse three times in the 1970s. Brown Lad also won the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham and twice placed second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Many fan's favourites have lit up Fairyhouse by winning the Irish Grand National. Fortria and Flyingbolt won during the 1960s. Popular grey Desert Orchid won the 1990 renewal of the Irish Grand National.
Arkle is certainly the most famous Irish Grand National winner. The three-time Gold Cup winner came to Fairyhouse in 1964, and carried 12-00 to victory in dominant fashion.
Arkle's trainer, Tom Dreaper is the winning-most trainer in the history of the Irish National saddling 10 different winners of this great race, including seven winners in a row between 1960 and 1966.
Commanche Court won the 2000 edition of the Irish Grand National, and followed up in the Punchestown Gold Cup later that spring. Nina Carberry won the 2011 renewal with Organisedconfusion, becoming the fourth different member of the Carberry family to ride the Irish Grand National winner.
Shutthefrontdoor won at Fairyhouse in 2014, and was later AP McCoy's final ride in the Aintree Grand National, finishing fifth the following season.
One of the best winning performances in recent years came from Our Duke. Jessica Harrington's novice was backed into favouritism in 2017, and produced a powerful showing to win under Robbie Power.
Paddy Mullins won the Irish National four times as a trainer. His son, Willie claimed his first victory in 2019, as Burrows' Saint won under Ruby Walsh.
