Irish Grand National

The Irish Grand National is a National Hunt chase 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.^[1]

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 and Numbersixvalverde. 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 took over the sponsorship in 2011.

Records

Most successful horse (3 wins):

• Brown Lad – 1975, 1976, 1978

Leading jockey (6 wins):

• Pat Taaffe – Royal Approach (1954), Umm (1955), Zonda (1959), Fortria (1961), Arkle (1964), Flyingbolt (1966)

Leading trainer (10 wins):

• Tom Dreaper – Prince Regent (1942), Shagreen (1949), Royal Approach (1954), Olympia (1960), Fortria (1961), Kerforo (1962), Last Link (1963), Arkle (1964), Splash (1965), Flyingbolt (1966)

A Unique Racing Record - Only Owner to complete the Derby and Grand National Double

• William Brophy, Herbertstown House, Two-Mile-House, Naas, Co. Kildare. Farmer, Breeder and Owner

In 1880 William Brophy completed a unique double by owning the winner of both the Irish Derby with King of the Bees and the Irish Grand National with Controller. Also uniquely both winners were by the same Dam Winged Bee.

Winners since 1960

• Weights given in stones and pounds; Amateur jockeys indicated by "Mr", "Mrs" etc.

Earlier winners

See also

• List of Irish National Hunt races

References

• Racing Post:
  • 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
  • 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
  • 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013

• pedigreequery.com – Irish Grand National – Fairyhouse.
• tbheritage.com – Irish Grand National winners.

Further reading

Peters, Stewart (2007). The Irish Grand National: The History of Ireland's Premier Steeplechase. Stroud: STADIA. p. 144. ISBN 978-0-7524-3691-3. 

Hyland, Francis P M; Williams, Guy St John (1995). Jameson Irish Grand National: a history of Ireland's premier steeplechase. The Organisation. p. 263. ISBN 978-0-9526902-0-7. 

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.].