The countdown is on for BOYLE Sports Irish Grand National, the highlight of the Fairyhouse Easter Festival, next Monday, April 6.
Ireland’s richest jumps race, worth a total of €500,000, can trace its history all the way back to 1870. Since then, it has found a special niche in our sporting identity and culture.
This year’s race is wide open, as is tradition. In the past ten renewals, there have been two winning favourites, but also victors at odds of 20-1 (twice), 40-1 and 150-1.
Last year’s race was won by Haiti Couleurs, trained in Wales by Rebecca Curtis. Three more British challengers are set to take part this year, headed by race favourite The Jukebox Kid, trained by Ben Pauling.
The race drew the maximum 30 contenders at the final forfeit stage on Wednesday. Declarations are due on Saturday morning.
The following are quotes from connections of each runner as per the latest BOYLE Sports market on the BOYLE Sports Irish Grand National 2026.
7-1 favourite The Jukebox Kid – GB Trainer Ben Pauling: “He’s in good order. He has never been a fast work horse, so you take it on trust that he is in good form. He seems well, he looks well, his trachea wash was clean. He has a very progressive profile. I think he is better going right-handed. He has only run six times in his life and that would be the only concern. But if he gets into a rhythm, he’s a good horse.”
8-1 Argento Boy – David Casey, Assistant to Trainer Willie Mullins: “The extra distance will suit him and any drop of rain will be a help. He stays well. Touch wood, with a clear round he will be able to run well.”
8-1 C’Est Ta Chance – David Casey, Assistant to Trainer Willie Mullins: “He had been running consistently. Won a beginners’ chase at Gowran then backed it up at Thurles in a Grade 3 when he looked smart. Definitely the step-up in trip will suit him and any rain will be a huge help for an improving horse. He hasn’t been to Cheltenham like one or two of the others so he might be fresher.”
8-1 Soldier In Milan – Trainer Emmet Mullins: “The only thing we would be a little worried about is his inexperience, but he is a big horse who jumps and stays well. He won his point-to-point over three miles and this is the kind of test we think he wants. He has a bit of class as well, so we are hoping for a good run.”
10-1 Kiss Will – David Casey, Assistant to Trainer Willie Mullins: “Consistent horse. He ran well in the Jack Richards novice handicap chase at Cheltenham, finishing fifth. Another one for whom the step-up in trip will be a huge plus and he can be really competitive.”
14-1 Better Days Ahead – Trainer Gordon Elliott: “This has been the plan all year. He has top weight, but the most important thing is for the ground to stay on the soft side. He was sixth in it last year and he is in great condition.”
16-1 Better Times Ahead – Trainer Robert Tyner: “He’s in good order. I would like more rain for him, though. It was heavy when he was caught in the last stride in the Thyestes at Gowran. His prep run in a hurdles race was fine, the distance was just too short for him. He has two wins at Fairyhouse this season and this race has been the plan for some time.”
16-1 Goraibhmaithagat – Trainer Colm Murphy: “Touch wood, he seems well. Happy with him since he went close at Naas a few weeks ago. The extra trip is something of an unknown. We are a long way from being confident, but we are hopeful.”
16-1 Showurappreciation – Trainer Jonathan Sweeney: “Mark Walsh was very good on him when he won last time at Navan. He has kept progressing for us and we are very happy with him. The new trip is a bit of an unknown but we’re hopeful he will get it. Our horses have been in very good form. We have new facilities, new gallops, so we can do everything from home now and that has been a big part of it.”
18-1 Search For Glory – Trainer Gordon Elliott: “The better the ground, the better his chance. For a big horse, he can’t seem to handle soft ground. Him and Better Days Ahead are my best chances in the race.”
20-1 Flicker Of Hope – Trainer Mark Fahey: “He won well at Naas in January to make us believe he could be suited to this race. He disappointed in his next run there but was probably because it came fairly close after the win. We gave him a break after, freshened him up and we are very happy with him now. Really looking forward to it and it will be great to be involved.”
20-1 Monbeg Genius – GB Co-Trainer AJ O’Neill: “He’s been in great form since Cheltenham when he performed well in the Kim Muir. We will stick with the blinkers he wore then. If the ground is a little slower in Ireland that’s good also. He jumps well and when you get him into a rhythm he keeps galloping. We have very fond memories of winning the race twice. Three times would be amazing.”
20-1 One Big Bang – GB Assistant Trainer, Ryan King: “He’s been training well since Cheltenham. The ground might have been on the quick side for him there. Anything softer in Ireland would be ideal. He’s a consistent horse. He stays well. He’s the kind of horse that gets better with racing. He ran well there at Punchestown last year when he placed third and we’re hoping he is a lively each-way chance again.”
20-1 Waterford Whispers – Trainer Henry De Bromhead: “We are delighted he crept in at the bottom of the weights. He’s in great form. He ran well at Cheltenham in the Kim Muir. The run before at the DRF was also very good when second. Perhaps more of an ease in the ground will help him.”
25-1 O’Toole – ‘Double Green’ Racing Manager, Anthony Bromley: “He is stepping up from a win last time at Leopardstown over 2m5f to 3m5f so that is an unknown. But Stuart has had this race in mind for some time, he just didn’t know if he would gain a start. We see him as a lively outsider. He is very lightly raced and we have always thought a lot of him. James Bowen will ride.”
28-1 Joystick – David Casey, Assistant to Trainer Willie Mullins: “He’s a bit the same as Argento Boy in that he likes extreme trips. His first run over fences was at Fairyhouse and that was good. He won well then in a beginners’ chase at Navan beating Slade Steel who has some good form in the book.”
33-1 Born Braver – Trainer Gavin Comwell: “Delighted he got in. It’s a fairly quick turnaround from last Sunday when he won the Ulster National at Downpatrick but he’s in good shape. He goes well at those extreme distances.”
33-1 Karia Des Blaises - David Casey, Assistant to Trainer Willie Mullins: “She won a Listed mares’ novice at Thurles last time. She had been consistent without winning before that. She has a lot of experience for a novice. It is her second season jumping fences. It will be her first time over this sort of trip which might be a concern as she can be a little bit keen. If she can settle, then she can run a big race.”
33-1 Kurasso Blue – Trainer Gordon Elliott: “Easier ground will help his chances. He was good and consistent before his latest run and he’s in grand shape.”
33-1 Sa Majeste – David Casey, Assistant to Trainer Willie Mullins: “He comes here after his best run this season at Naas when third in the Leinster National so we hope he is hitting some form at the right time.”
33-1 Shanbally Kid – David Casey, Assistant to Trainer Willie Mullins: “He’s not a horse that is very quick jumping at his fences and he can take time to warm into a race. These longer distance races help him as he can go a stride slower. He was another to put up his season’s best last time in the Leinster National at Naas staying on from well back to get fourth.”
33-1 Shecouldbeanything – Trainer Gordon Elliott: “She runs her race every time. It is just whether she is good enough to win. She was seventh in the race last year. If she ran into a place, it would be great.”
33-1 The Enabler – Trainer Gordon Elliott: “Good, consistent horse. He ran well in the Kim Muir and has come out of it well.”
33-1 Weveallbeencaught – Trainer Eric McNamara: “He ran well in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham on ground that would have been too quick for him. We think the combination of softer ground at Fairyhouse and the extra distance, the 3m5f, will make a big difference and we feel he can be very competitive. We have Patrick O’Brien claiming 5lbs as well.”
33-1 Yeah Man – Trainer Gavin Cromwell: “The ground was a bit fast for him at Cheltenham in the Pertemps Hurdle. He was second in the Troytown earlier in the season so at his best he deserves his chance.”
40-1 Rushmount – Trainer Jonathan Sweeney: “He didn’t seem to take to the travelling and the delays when he went to Cheltenham. He’s been in good order since, though.”
40-1 Western Walk – Trainer Jonathan Sweeney: “He just didn’t go on the ground the last day at Thurles. It was very gluey and he was minded when his chance was gone. He had good form before that in Grade 1 and Grade 2 races. This race has been the plan all the way.”
66-1 Duffle Coat – Trainer Gordon Elliott: “It’s his first run since the Kerry National last September but we are happy he gets his chance.”
66-1 Hartur D’Arc – Trainer John McConnell: “Since his last run he was diagnosed with pretty bad ulcers which have been treated. He is down to a mark where he could be competitive at a big price, he is quite a talented horse on his day. He is 1lb lower than when he was second in the Leinster National last year.”
100-1 Velvet Elvis – Trainer John McConnell: “He is still quite highly rated, so we don’t have many choices with him.”
(BOYLE Sports prices as per 12noon, Thursday, April 2)
Click here for the entries to the BOYLE Sports Irish Grand National on Monday, April 6.
