Irish Grand National 2025: Tips & Runners Guide

If the Aintree Grand National is the world's most famous race, the Irish version is arguably the punter's favourite.

Here's why: it's more predictable. Not easy, mind you - nothing in National Hunt racing is easy. But the Irish Grand National has clearer trends, smaller fields, and less of the sheer chaos that defines Aintree.

Plus, it's on Easter Monday. There's something special about that. The family's around, the season's winding down, and you've got one more big race to get stuck into.

Let's break down what makes this race tick and how to approach finding the winner.

What Makes the Irish Grand National Different?

Fairyhouse isn't Aintree. That's the key thing to understand.

The Irish Grand National is run over about 3 miles 5 furlongs - shorter than its Aintree counterpart. The fences are standard Irish regulations, not the unique obstacles you get in Liverpool. The field size is typically 25-30 runners, not 40.

What does this mean in practice? It means stamina still matters, but not quite as extremely. It means jumping ability is important, but you don't need a specialist. It means the best horse in the field has a better chance of winning.

Put simply: class tells more often here than at Aintree.

The Trends That Work

Right, let's look at what the data says about Irish Grand National winners.

Age: 7-10 Sweet Spot

Slightly younger than Aintree, reflecting the slightly less gruelling test. 8 and 9-year-olds have the best records, but 7s and 10s aren't far behind.

Weight: Middle to Lower End

Similar to Aintree, top weights rarely win. Look for horses around 10st 7lb to 11st. Light enough to be competitive, good enough to carry the weight they've been given.

Cheltenham Form (But Not What You'd Think)

Here's something interesting. Horses who ran at the Cheltenham Festival but didn't win often bounce back in the Irish National. They've had a run, they're fit, but they're not exhausted from a four-mile slog. Festival near-misses are worth noting.

Previous Festival Form at Fairyhouse

Horses who've run at the Easter Festival before - even if not in the National itself - know the track. Course experience matters less than at Aintree, but it's still a positive.

Trainer Patterns

Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott dominate Irish National Hunt racing generally, and this race is no exception. But don't overlook the smaller yards - this is a handicap, and well-treated horses from mid-tier trainers have won.

The Gordon Elliott Factor

Worth a specific mention here.

Gordon Elliott has an exceptional record in the Irish Grand National. Multiple wins, numerous placings. His operation is geared toward these big handicap chases - he trains the volume, identifies the targets, and runs horses where they're competitive.

If Elliott has a fancied runner, take it seriously. But don't assume his horse will win just because it's trained by him. The market often overreacts to his runners, which can actually create value elsewhere.

Post-Cheltenham Psychology

Timing matters with this race.

The Irish Grand National comes about three weeks after the Cheltenham Festival. For some horses, that's recovery time. For others, it's a chance to bounce back from disappointment. And for a few, it's simply too quick after a hard race.

When analysing runners, consider:

Did they run at Cheltenham? How hard was the race?
Were they beaten fair and square, or did something go wrong?
Is three weeks enough recovery for this particular horse?

Horses coming off easy runs (pulled up early, never involved) often bounce back well. Horses who emptied the tank to finish 4th in a championship race might not be ready to do it again.

The Ground Question

Easter in Ireland. Could be anything, weather-wise.

Fairyhouse can ride anywhere from good to heavy depending on the spring weather patterns. Check the forecast in the week before and match it to your selections' ground preferences.

Some horses are genuine soft ground specialists. Others need it drying. The Irish National has been won on all types of going, but your selection needs to be suited to whatever's on offer on the day.

How I Approach the Irish Grand National

Here's my process, step by step:

1. Wait for Final Declarations

No point going deep on analysis until you know who's actually running. Declarations come a few days before - that's when the real work begins.

2. Apply Trend Filters

Age 7-10. Weight under 11st 7lb ideally. Recent run (within 4 weeks). Eliminate horses that don't fit.

3. Assess Cheltenham Impact

For each remaining horse, check their Cheltenham situation. Fresh? Recovering? Disappointing? This shapes expectations.

4. Check Ground Preferences

Cross-reference with the likely going. Eliminate horses unsuited to the conditions.

5. Look at Trainer Intent

Some trainers are clearly targeting this race. Others are just giving their horse a run. First-choice jockey bookings, specific prep races - these suggest intent.

6. Price Assessment

Finally, check the market. Is your fancy good value? Is there an overlay compared to your assessment? This is where you decide how much to bet.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Things I've got wrong in the past, so you don't have to:

Assuming Cheltenham form transfers directly. A horse who ran well in the Pertemps Final is fit and capable, yes. But that was a different track, different conditions. Fairyhouse requires its own assessment.

Ignoring the weight. It's tempting to back "the best horse in the field" regardless of weight. But in marathon handicaps, weight matters. The 11st 12lb carrier needs to be significantly better to beat the 10st 4lb carrier.

Forgetting ground preferences. Easter weather in Ireland is unpredictable. Don't back a horse who needs it quick if there's a chance of rain.

Overlooking course form. Fairyhouse has unique characteristics. Right-handed, flat, sharp-ish fences. Horses who've proven themselves here before have an edge.

Value Betting in the Irish National

The Irish Grand National is actually a pretty good race for finding value.

Why? Because the casual money often gravitates toward the same horses - the big names, the Cheltenham runners, the obvious form horses. Meanwhile, horses with solid but less flashy credentials can slip under the radar.

Look for:

Horses from smaller yards with great records in staying chases
Runners who've been campaigning at slightly shorter trips but have stamina in the pedigree
Previous Irish National placed horses stepping back up in trip

The each-way market is generous too - usually 4 or 5 places. Even hitting the frame pays out at a chunk of the odds.

Looking Ahead to 2025

As we get closer to Easter Monday 2025, this page will be updated with specific contender analysis. We'll look at the likely runners, assess their chances, and identify where the value might lie.

For now, bookmark this page and start keeping an eye on the staying chase scene in Ireland and the UK. The horses who'll contest the 2025 Irish Grand National are already out there, building their form lines.

When the time comes, you'll be ready to spot the winner.