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 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.

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.

Records

Winners since 1946 Weights given in stones and pounds. Year Winner Age Weight Jockey Trainer1946Golden View II1112-07Martin MolonyR O'Connell1947Revelry711-05Dan MooreJ Doyle1948Hamstar809-07E KennedyWillie O'Grady1949Shagreen810-00E NewmanTom Dreaper1950Dominick's Bar610-06Martin MolonyTim Hyde1951Icy Calm810-03P DoyleWillie O'Grady1952Alberoni910-01L StephensVincent O'Brien1953Overshadow1310-04A PowerC Magnier1954Royal Approach612-00Pat TaaffeTom Dreaper1955Umm810-05Pat TaaffeG Wells1956Air Prince1210-00T O'BrienJ McClintock1957Kilballyown1009-10Willie Robinson P Norris1958Gold Legend809-07J LehaneJ Brogan1959Zonda810-06Pat TaaffeMatt 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 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 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 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 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 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 2026 Soldier In Milan 7 11-00 Donagh Meyler Emmet Mullins

Earlier winners

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 – 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 Horse racing in Ireland List of Irish National Hunt races Ulster Grand National Scotland Grand National Welsh Grand National

References

Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , pedigreequery.com – Irish Grand National – Fairyhouse. tbheritage.com – Irish Grand National winners.

Further reading

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.].