2025 Irish Grand National Tips - Odds, trends and two outsiders to back at Fairyhouse
The 2025 Irish Grand National is set to captivate horse racing enthusiasts, with the iconic event taking place at Fairyhouse. Featuring notable entries like Search For Glory and Dunboyne, the race attracts young and novice horses suited for testing conditions. Haiti Couleurs, despite challenging track conditions and formidable competition, remains a favorite. Strategic insights and betting trends reveal that recent winners have favored youthful and lightly raced contenders. Check out our live stream offerings to follow the action live and immerse yourself in this thrilling race.
- We've published our guide to the 2025 Irish Grand National
- This historic handicap will take place on Easter Monday at Fairyhouse
- Search For Glory and Dunboyne are our long-shot selections
The card at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday is headlined by the Irish Grand National. This historic handicap was first run at Fairyhouse in 1870, and has been won by legends like Bobbyjo, Desert Orchid and - the greatest of all time - Arkle during its long, illustrious history.
We've taken a look through the current Irish Grand National field and listed some key trends, before picking out our best betting tips.
2025 Irish Grand National Odds
| Name | Odds |
|---|---|
| Haiti Couleurs | 6/1 |
| Now Is The Hour | 7/1 |
| Bioluminescence | 10/1 |
| Johnnywho | 10/1 |
| Canal End (3rd Reserve) | 12/1 |
| Kinturk Kalanisi | 12/1 |
| Bar | 14/1 |
2025 Irish Grand National Trends
- 16 of the last 17 winners had won going right-handed
- 15 of the last 17 winners had won over at least three miles
- 15 of the last 17 winners had run at least three times that season
- 14 of the last 17 winners carried 10-13 or less
- 14 of the last 17 winners had run within the last 54 days
- 14 of the last 17 winners were first or second season chasers
- 13 of the last 17 winners had won at least twice over fences
- 13 of the last 17 winners went off at 12/1 or longer
- 13 of the last 17 winners did not win on their last start
- 13 of the last 17 winners had won that season
- 12 of the last 17 winners were aged seven, eight or nine
The Irish Grand National has become a race for the younger horses and the betting for Sunday's renewal is dominated by novices. Ante-post favourite, Haiti Couleurs won't be phased by heavy ground and Sean Bowen comes over to ride. The other British raider is Johnnywho, who somehow managed to get beaten in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham and he's never been that comfortable in really testing conditions.
Gavin Cromwell's strong squad is captained by Now Is The Hour, who was coming to challenge Haiti Couleurs in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham but fell at the second-last. I almost went for Bioluminescence, as a marathon trip on slow ground will suit. However, Mark Walsh has opted to ride last year's runner-up, the 13-year-old Any Second Now, which makes me think that Cromwell's novice might not be ready for this stern a test.
Gavin Cromwell's strong squad is captained by Now Is The Hour, who was coming to challenge Haiti Couleurs in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham but fell at the second-last. I almost went for Bioluminescence, as a marathon trip on slow ground will suit. However, Mark Walsh has opted to ride last year's runner-up, the 13-year-old Any Second Now, which makes me think that Cromwell's novice might not be ready for this stern a test.
2025 Irish Grand National Tip 1 - Search For Glory
A novice who seems to have been overlooked in the market is SEARCH FOR GLORY (40/1), who has enjoyed a productive first season over fences.
Gordon Elliott's eight-year-old slammed Sa Majeste, Mint Boy and Sequestered when scoring on his chasing debut at Galway in October, and came within a short-head of upsetting Stellar Story in the Florida Pearl at Punchestown. Search For Glory when kept on well to finish third in the Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick over Christmas, and both Impaire Et Passe and Jordans have boosted that Grade One form since.
Having clearly hated the track and ground at Leopardstown in February, Search For Glory was last seen finishing eighth in the Ultima at Cheltenham. Irish horses have a dreadful record in that handicap and the ground would have been a little too lively for him too, but Sam Ewing's mount stuck to his task gamely to finish just ten lengths adrift of runner-up The Changing Man.
Search For Glory won his bumper and his two races over hurdles on bottomless ground and the going was fairly testing for his best performances over fences earlier in the season. Sam Ewing keeps his place in the saddle and Elliott's eight-year-old could be well-handicapped off 143.
2025 Irish Grand National Tip 2 - Dunboyne
The move to Ian Donoghue's yard has completely transformed DUNBOYNE (33/1) and I'm hoping that momentum will lead to a strong showing in Monday's main event.
During his novice days with Gordon Elliott, Dunboyne recorded some impressive results. Most notable of them was an agonising defeat in the 2023 Thyestes at his beloved Gowran Park, where Dunboyne's late challenge came up a short-head behind Carefully Selected.
A pulled-up effort in that season's Grand National sparked a downward spiral in form for Elliott's chaser. Dunboyne managed to finish fourth on his reappearance in the 2023 Troytown, but failed to complete on his final four starts for Gordon, running some truly bizarre races.
On his first start for Donoghue, James Smith guided Dunboyne to a shock handicap hurdle success at Navan. Four weeks later, Smith's mount returned to chasing with a bang in the Ulster National, edging out Final Orders as the top two pulled miles clear of a quality field.
The handicapper has upped Dunboyne's mark to 135 for that win, but that's still eight pounds short of the peak rating he reached with Elliott and the RPR of 142 he received for that Ulster National win was a career-best. Donagh Meyler has won Grade Ones and Nationals in Britain and Ireland, and he jumps until Dunboyne's saddle for the first time on Monday.
Visit our Irish Grand National Live Stream if you plan on watching this historic handicap via a mobile or tablet.
Live Stream
Visit our Irish Grand National Live Stream if you plan on watching this historic handicap via a mobile or tablet.
Verdict
Search For Glory and Dunboyne are our two selections in the 2025 Irish Grand National.
Search For Glory E/W
2025 Irish Grand National
@40/1 - 5 Units
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Dunboyne E/W
2025 Irish Grand National
@33/1 - 5 Units
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with bonus code NEWBONUS
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