BoyleSports Irish Grand National Draws Strong British Interest and Major Festival Winners

The BoyleSports Irish Grand National, Ireland’s richest jumps race with a €500,000 prize pool, has attracted 86 entries for its Easter Monday renewal on 21 April, including 11 UK-trained contenders and a host of recent Cheltenham Festival winners.

Among the standout entries is Haiti Couleurs, fresh off a National Hunt Chase win at Cheltenham and allocated 10st. Trainer Rebecca Curtis has earmarked the 3m5f Fairyhouse showpiece as the next target.

Also entered are 2025 Festival winners Stumptown (10st 8lb), Daily Present (9st 10lb), and Wonderwall (9st 9lb), joining last year’s Aintree Grand National champion I Am Maximus, who tops the weights at 11st 12lb.

UK Runners Eye Irish Glory

The last overseas winner was in 2014, but British interest is strong this year. Entries include Johnnywho, Resplendent Grey, Henry’s Friend, and the intriguing Iroko (10st 11lb) for Greenall & Guerriero.

Heavyweight Support from Ireland’s Top Yards

• Gavin Cromwell enters 11 horses, including Stumptown, Perceval Legallois, and Bioluminescence.
• Willie Mullins fields 22 entries, including Impaire Et Passe (10st 12lb) and Dancing City (10st 10lb).
• Gordon Elliott contributes 13 entries, headlined by Better Days Ahead (10st 13lb).
• Tom Gibney’s defending champ, Intense Raffles (11st 1lb), is among the market leaders.
• Mouse Morris has entered Gold Cup third Gentlemansgame (11st 5lb) in a bold move.

Fairyhouse GM Peter Roe praised the depth of quality, noting entries include previous winners, Festival form horses, and a wide-open betting market — key ingredients for a strong renewal.

The 5pm feature on Easter Monday promises another thrilling edition of the National, with bookmakers braced for action and major market moves expected closer to the off.