Irish Grand National


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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
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 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 out of the same Dam Winged Bee.
 * William Brophy, Herbertstown House, Two-Mile-House, Naas, County Kildare. Farmer, Breeder and Owner

Winners since 1946

 * Weights given in stones and pounds.

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