11 British entries among a stellar list for BoyleSports Irish Grand National on Easter Monday
Fairyhouse Easter Festival Saturday April 19 – Monday April 21
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
At the BoyleSports Irish Grand National weights launch L to R: Peter Roe General Manager of Fairyhouse, trainer Tom Gibney, Sharon McHugh from BoyleSports and groom Lisa Murray with 2024 BoyleSports Irish Grand National winner Intense Raffles. The Fairyhouse Easter Festival, Saturday April 19 to Monday April 21, featuring the BoyleSports Irish Grand National on Easter Monday.
There are 11 British entries among a stellar list of 86 for Ireland's richest jumps race - the BoyleSports Irish Grand National on Easter Monday, April 21 - and among them is Haiti Couleurs, who won the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham festival and afterwards trainer Rebecca Curtis immediately nominated the Easter Monday showpiece at Fairyhouse as her preferred next port of call.
Haiti Couleurs has been allocated 10st and is one of four 2025 festival winners who could show up at Fairyhouse on April 21 as Glenfarclas Cross Country winner Stumptown (10st 8lb) , the Paul Nolan-trained Daily Present (9st 10lb), who swooped late to land the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase and Sam Curling’s St James's Place festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase winner Wonderwall (9st 9lb) have also been entered in the 3m 5f contest which has a prize pool of €500,000, with €270,000 of that going to the winner.
The last overseas winner of the race was Shutthefrontdoor, who broke Barry Geraghty's duck in 2014, and his trainer Jonjo O'Neill, now jointly at the helm with son AJ, has entered Kim Muir runner-up Johnnywho (10st 5lb) and Hasthing (9st 5lb) in the race 11 years on from his famous triumph.
Iroko (10st 11lb) would be a very interesting contender for Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero should he take up the engagement, while Olly Murphy has entered the novice Resplendent Grey (9st 13lb). Ben Pauling could go in search of a first victory on Irish soil with Henry's Friend (10st 2lb).
There is huge quality among the entries this year as last year's Grand National hero I Am Maximus heads the weights with 11st 12lb (rated 167). He, of course, won the Irish equivalent in 2023 under an inspired Paul Townend steer.
Defending champion Intense Raffles, who is ante-post favourite for the Aintree spectacular on Saturday week, could try to retain his crown after being handed 11st 1lb, his mark of 156 is 11lb higher than when landing the spoils for JJ Slevin and Tom Gibney 12 months ago. This year, Tom could be relying on the unexposed Kinturk Kalanisi (9st 8lb) to give him his third BoyleSports Irish Grand National.
The BoyleSports Irish Grand National is one of very few big races which still elude Gavin Cromwell and the Gold Cup-winning trainer has no fewer than 11 entries in an attempt to open his account in the biggest race at his local track.
As well as the aforementioned Stumptown (10st 8lb), Cromwell has also entered Paddy Power Chase winner Perceval Legallois (10st 12lb), exciting mare Bioluminescence (10st 4lb), Velvet Elvis (10st 5lb), Malina Girl (10st 1lb), Yeah Man (10st 1lb), Now Is The Hour (10st), Mint Boy (9st 10lb), Final Orders (9st 8lb), Noble Birth (9st 5lb), Union Station (8st 11lb).
Willie Mullins had to wait until Burrows Saint in 2019 to open his BoyleSports Irish Grand National account but, after I Am Maximus swooped late two years ago, he is now seeking a third success in six runnings. The Closutton maestro has a staggering 22 entries, including the classy Grade 1-winning novice Impaire Et Passe (10st 12lb) who didn't make the trip across the Irish Sea for Cheltenham in favour of waiting for some of the spring targets over here. Dancing City (10st 10lb) is another interesting entrant from Mullins.
Gordon Elliott, whose sole success in the race arrived in 2018 with General Principle, is responsible for 13 of the entries. Better Days Ahead (10st 13lb), who finished third in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at Cheltenham tops his list.
Lord Lariat, the second of two winners in a row for locally-based Dermot McLoughlin in 2022 after Freewheelin Dylan at 150-1 the previous year, has been allocated 9st 11lb, which means off 138 he is only 1lb higher than when landing the spoils three years ago.
Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup third Gentlemansgame (11st 5lb) has been given a fascinating entry by Mouse Morris following his fine effort behind Inothewayurthinkin and Galopin Des Champs.
Morris won the race as a jockey back in 1977 on Billycan and has twice trained the winner - Hear The Echo (2008) and Rogue Angel (2016).
Sharon McHugh, Head of PR & Sponsorship for BoyleSports, commented: “We are delighted to have such a strong book of entries ahead of this year’s BoyleSports Irish Grand National and it promises to be another thrilling renewal of Ireland’s richest jumps race. The betting is wide open which is a testament to the competitiveness of the race and that’s what the Irish National is all about.”
Peter Roe, General Manager of Fairyhouse, said: “I am delighted with the depth and quality of entries for this year’s BoyleSports Irish Grand National. It is great to have the previous three winners of the race, four winners from this year’s Cheltenham festival and 11 UK-trained horses. There is a great depth of the top novice chasers from this year entered and I am really looking forward to another fascinating renewal of Ireland’s greatest chase, The BoyleSports Irish Grand National which goes to post at 5pm on Easter Monday, April 21.
“This year’s Easter festival is shaping up well and bookings are very strong with a lot of hospitality already sold out so I would encourage anyone who is planning to come to our Easter festival to visit our website and book now to avail of discount prices.”
Click here for the BoyleSports Irish Grand National entries at weights
BoyleSports Irish Grand National odds
8/1 Haiti Couleurs
12/1 Better Days Ahead
12/1 Now Is The Hour
14/1 Daily Present
14/1 High Class Hero
14/1 Intense Raffles
14/1 Johnnywho
14/1 Quai De Bourbon
16/1 Bioluminescence
16/1 Captain Cody
16/1 Chosen Witness
16/1 Dancing City
16/1 Hasthing
16/1 I Am Maximus
16/1 Impaire Et Passe
16/1 Iroko
16/1 Kinturk Kalanisi
16/1 Nick Rockett
16/1 Perceval Legallois
16/1 Stumptown
16/1 Wonderwall
20/1 Aworkinprogress
20/1 Duffle Coat
20/1 Gentlemansgame
20/1 Loughglynn
20/1 Malina Girl
20/1 Meetingofthewaters
20/1 Minella Cocooner
20/1 Monbeg Park
20/1 Olympic Man
20/1 Panda Boy
20/1 Resplendent Grey
20/1 The Short Go
20/1 Three Card Brag
25/1 Any Second Now
25/1 Bushmans Pass
25/1 Canal End
25/1 Favori De Champdou
25/1 Grangeclare West
25/1 Harry Des Ongrais
25/1 Kilcruit
25/1 Mint Boy
25/1 O’Connell
25/1 Sa Majeste
25/1 Sequestered
25/1 Shecouldbeanything
25/1 Val Dancer
25/1 Will Do
25/1 Yeah Man
33/1 Fortunedefortunata
33/1 Henry’s Friend
33/1 Herakles Westwood
33/1 Macdermott
33/1 Noble Birth
33/1 Outside The Door
33/1 Search For Glory
33/1 Union Station
33/1 Velvet Elvis
40/1 Busselton
40/1 Desertmore House
40/1 Fil Dor
40/1 Judicieuse Allen
40/1 Macs Charm
50/1 A Penny A Hundred
50/1 Another Choice
50/1 Brandt
50/1 Cleatus Poolaw
50/1 Dunboyne
50/1 Final Orders
50/1 Iris Emery
50/1 Jumping Jet
50/1 Klarc Kent
50/1 Lord Lariat
50/1 Paggane
50/1 Prince Palace
50/1 Roi Mage
50/1 Spanish Harlem
50/1 Stuzzikini
50/1 Tullybeg
66/1 Banjaxed
66/1 Chigorin
66/1 History Of Fashion
66/1 Inis Oirr
66/1 Jody Ted
66/1 Moonovercloon
66/1 The Gradual Slope
Haiti Couleurs has been allocated 10st and is one of four 2025 festival winners who could show up at Fairyhouse on April 21 as Glenfarclas Cross Country winner Stumptown (10st 8lb) , the Paul Nolan-trained Daily Present (9st 10lb), who swooped late to land the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase and Sam Curling’s St James's Place festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase winner Wonderwall (9st 9lb) have also been entered in the 3m 5f contest which has a prize pool of €500,000, with €270,000 of that going to the winner.
The last overseas winner of the race was Shutthefrontdoor, who broke Barry Geraghty's duck in 2014, and his trainer Jonjo O'Neill, now jointly at the helm with son AJ, has entered Kim Muir runner-up Johnnywho (10st 5lb) and Hasthing (9st 5lb) in the race 11 years on from his famous triumph.
Iroko (10st 11lb) would be a very interesting contender for Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero should he take up the engagement, while Olly Murphy has entered the novice Resplendent Grey (9st 13lb). Ben Pauling could go in search of a first victory on Irish soil with Henry's Friend (10st 2lb).
There is huge quality among the entries this year as last year's Grand National hero I Am Maximus heads the weights with 11st 12lb (rated 167). He, of course, won the Irish equivalent in 2023 under an inspired Paul Townend steer.
Defending champion Intense Raffles, who is ante-post favourite for the Aintree spectacular on Saturday week, could try to retain his crown after being handed 11st 1lb, his mark of 156 is 11lb higher than when landing the spoils for JJ Slevin and Tom Gibney 12 months ago. This year, Tom could be relying on the unexposed Kinturk Kalanisi (9st 8lb) to give him his third BoyleSports Irish Grand National.
The BoyleSports Irish Grand National is one of very few big races which still elude Gavin Cromwell and the Gold Cup-winning trainer has no fewer than 11 entries in an attempt to open his account in the biggest race at his local track.
As well as the aforementioned Stumptown (10st 8lb), Cromwell has also entered Paddy Power Chase winner Perceval Legallois (10st 12lb), exciting mare Bioluminescence (10st 4lb), Velvet Elvis (10st 5lb), Malina Girl (10st 1lb), Yeah Man (10st 1lb), Now Is The Hour (10st), Mint Boy (9st 10lb), Final Orders (9st 8lb), Noble Birth (9st 5lb), Union Station (8st 11lb).
Willie Mullins had to wait until Burrows Saint in 2019 to open his BoyleSports Irish Grand National account but, after I Am Maximus swooped late two years ago, he is now seeking a third success in six runnings. The Closutton maestro has a staggering 22 entries, including the classy Grade 1-winning novice Impaire Et Passe (10st 12lb) who didn't make the trip across the Irish Sea for Cheltenham in favour of waiting for some of the spring targets over here. Dancing City (10st 10lb) is another interesting entrant from Mullins.
Gordon Elliott, whose sole success in the race arrived in 2018 with General Principle, is responsible for 13 of the entries. Better Days Ahead (10st 13lb), who finished third in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at Cheltenham tops his list.
Lord Lariat, the second of two winners in a row for locally-based Dermot McLoughlin in 2022 after Freewheelin Dylan at 150-1 the previous year, has been allocated 9st 11lb, which means off 138 he is only 1lb higher than when landing the spoils three years ago.
Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup third Gentlemansgame (11st 5lb) has been given a fascinating entry by Mouse Morris following his fine effort behind Inothewayurthinkin and Galopin Des Champs.
Morris won the race as a jockey back in 1977 on Billycan and has twice trained the winner - Hear The Echo (2008) and Rogue Angel (2016).
Sharon McHugh, Head of PR & Sponsorship for BoyleSports, commented: “We are delighted to have such a strong book of entries ahead of this year’s BoyleSports Irish Grand National and it promises to be another thrilling renewal of Ireland’s richest jumps race. The betting is wide open which is a testament to the competitiveness of the race and that’s what the Irish National is all about.”
Peter Roe, General Manager of Fairyhouse, said: “I am delighted with the depth and quality of entries for this year’s BoyleSports Irish Grand National. It is great to have the previous three winners of the race, four winners from this year’s Cheltenham festival and 11 UK-trained horses. There is a great depth of the top novice chasers from this year entered and I am really looking forward to another fascinating renewal of Ireland’s greatest chase, The BoyleSports Irish Grand National which goes to post at 5pm on Easter Monday, April 21.
“This year’s Easter festival is shaping up well and bookings are very strong with a lot of hospitality already sold out so I would encourage anyone who is planning to come to our Easter festival to visit our website and book now to avail of discount prices.”
Click here for the BoyleSports Irish Grand National entries at weights
BoyleSports Irish Grand National odds
8/1 Haiti Couleurs
12/1 Better Days Ahead
12/1 Now Is The Hour
14/1 Daily Present
14/1 High Class Hero
14/1 Intense Raffles
14/1 Johnnywho
14/1 Quai De Bourbon
16/1 Bioluminescence
16/1 Captain Cody
16/1 Chosen Witness
16/1 Dancing City
16/1 Hasthing
16/1 I Am Maximus
16/1 Impaire Et Passe
16/1 Iroko
16/1 Kinturk Kalanisi
16/1 Nick Rockett
16/1 Perceval Legallois
16/1 Stumptown
16/1 Wonderwall
20/1 Aworkinprogress
20/1 Duffle Coat
20/1 Gentlemansgame
20/1 Loughglynn
20/1 Malina Girl
20/1 Meetingofthewaters
20/1 Minella Cocooner
20/1 Monbeg Park
20/1 Olympic Man
20/1 Panda Boy
20/1 Resplendent Grey
20/1 The Short Go
20/1 Three Card Brag
25/1 Any Second Now
25/1 Bushmans Pass
25/1 Canal End
25/1 Favori De Champdou
25/1 Grangeclare West
25/1 Harry Des Ongrais
25/1 Kilcruit
25/1 Mint Boy
25/1 O’Connell
25/1 Sa Majeste
25/1 Sequestered
25/1 Shecouldbeanything
25/1 Val Dancer
25/1 Will Do
25/1 Yeah Man
33/1 Fortunedefortunata
33/1 Henry’s Friend
33/1 Herakles Westwood
33/1 Macdermott
33/1 Noble Birth
33/1 Outside The Door
33/1 Search For Glory
33/1 Union Station
33/1 Velvet Elvis
40/1 Busselton
40/1 Desertmore House
40/1 Fil Dor
40/1 Judicieuse Allen
40/1 Macs Charm
50/1 A Penny A Hundred
50/1 Another Choice
50/1 Brandt
50/1 Cleatus Poolaw
50/1 Dunboyne
50/1 Final Orders
50/1 Iris Emery
50/1 Jumping Jet
50/1 Klarc Kent
50/1 Lord Lariat
50/1 Paggane
50/1 Prince Palace
50/1 Roi Mage
50/1 Spanish Harlem
50/1 Stuzzikini
50/1 Tullybeg
66/1 Banjaxed
66/1 Chigorin
66/1 History Of Fashion
66/1 Inis Oirr
66/1 Jody Ted
66/1 Moonovercloon
66/1 The Gradual Slope
I am delighted with the depth and quality of entries for this year’s BoyleSports Irish Grand National. It is great to have the previous three winners of the race, four winners from this year’s Cheltenham festival and 11 UK-trained horses.
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