The Irish Grand National horse race is a National Hunt steeplechase held at the Fairyhouse Racecourse in Ratoath, County Meath, in the Republic of Ireland. This annual race is held every Easter Monday during the Fairyhouse Easter Festival. As the biggest steeplechase and one of the most prestigious races in Europe, the Irish Grand National attracts some of the best quality racehorses in the region. This handicap race is only open to horses at least five years of age. 

The Fairyhouse Racecourse

The famous Fairyhouse Racecourse has hosted the Irish Grand National throughout the race’s entire long history. This course is a grueling 3 miles and 5 furlongs long and the horses must jump 23 difficult fences by the time they cross the finish line. Because the Fairyhouse Racecourse is so challenging, European trainers like to test their horses out on this course. Horses that perform well at Fairyhouse typically have the stamina needed to excel at other European racecourses.  

Brief History of the Irish Grand National Horse Race 

The Irish Grand National was established way back in 1870. A horse named Sir Robert Peel won the very first race. Because it is held on Easter Monday, the event attracts many racing fans from Dublin, which earned this race the nickname of “The Dub’s Day Out.” The Irish Distillers sponsored this race under various names for much of the race’s history, but Ladbrokes took over the sponsorship in 2010.

Legends of the Irish Grand National 

The horse named Brown Lad is the Irish Grand National’s most successful racehorse, winning three times in 1975, 1976 and 1978. Pat Taaffee is currently the event’s most successful jockey, winning the race six times on six different horses from 1954 to 1966. The most successful trainer during the history of the Irish Grand National is named Tom Dreaper. Mr. Dreaper trained ten winning horses from 1943 to 1966. 

Several of the Irish Grand National winners went on to win the Grand National race held at the Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, but no horse has won both races in the same year. The first horse to complete the double was named Ascetic’s Silver, who achieved this feat in the early 1900s. More recent double winners include the horses named Bobbyjo, Numbersixvalverde and Rhyme ‘n’ Reason. 

The Irish Grand National’s Top Jockey Family

The Carberry family has had several family members perform successfully as jockeys in the Irish Grand National horse race. Tommy Carberry began the family tradition when he was a jockey in the 1960s and 1970s. He was the overall champion Irish jockey twice before retiring in 1982 to train racehorses. 

Tommy’s son, Paul Carberry, also won the champion title twice. Paul took the Irish Grand National in 1998 on Bobbyjo, a horse that his father trained. Tommy’s son Paul has also won this prestigious race, jockeying to victory in 2006. The most recent Carberry to win the Irish Grand National is Tommy’s daughter, Nina Carberry, who won the race in 2011 on Organisedconfusion, a horse trained by her uncle, Arthur Moore.  

For some people April may seem months away but for others it is just right around the corner. That is right. It is time to get ready for the Grand National Championship. This horse race is a most exciting time for horse lovers and race fans both. There are three days of fun and exciting things to do. From women and children to the racers themselves there is something for everyone. It holds appeal too many people and now is the time to purchase your tickets for the anticipated three day event in April.

The first Grand National Championship was held in 1839. It was one by a horse named Lottery. It is now a three day event starting with Liverpool Day on April 12, Ladies Day on April 13, and Grand National Day on April 14. These three days are full of music, fashion, racing, and fun. The race itself is the highest quality of jump racing in the UK. Forty horses will line up and jump 30 fences in four and a half miles. This is a test of the toughest horses and jockeys in the world. You will find many people betting on their horses each year, whether they study the horses and jockeys and their abilities or whether they just pick names and place bets. It is a great tradition and race to watch and will leave you wanting more.

Liverpool Day is in its third year and provides entertainment off the track for this wonderful event. There are concerts held on this day, parades, and sporting legends have also been known to make an appearance. This year on April 12, 2012, Liverpool Day is supposed to be bigger and better than ever. 

For the ladies of the races, Ladies Day will be held on April 13. This second day of the three day entertainment package is going to be more stylish than ever. A flourish of fashion shows, make up samplings and giveaways, and grab bag giveaways are going to make up the best Ladies Day ever held. There will be splashes of color in the Red Rum Garden that will be sure to spice up the excitement. 

Last, but certainly not least, there is Grand National Day. It only happens once a year and only lasts approximately fifteen minutes. It is that fifteen minutes that will leave you coming back year after year. If you are simply watching the race on television with millions of other people, or if you are one of the lucky ones that can actually be at the Aintree Racecourse in person, it is an experience you are not likely to forget.

So, everyone mark your calendars. April is not too far away. The three day event is quickly approaching and it is time to prepare. The festivities, the entertainment, and the racing are definitely not something that you want to miss. Tickets for this festive three days went on sale in August. It will be a rush of fun and flash for these memorable few days. It is not something that you are going to want to miss.

Jockey A.P. (Tony) McCoy is undoubtedly the most successful and greatest jump-jockey in the history hunt racing. A.P. McCoy has snatched a record of 16 successive jump jockey titles. He has ridden more than 3,000 winners since 1992 and well on his way to breaching the 4,000 mark. It was in 2002 when he finally broke the record for most number of winners in a single season of 269 held by Sir Gordon Richard by riding a record of 289 winners during the 2002 season.

AP set a new milestone in his stellar career as a jump-jockey after he ruled the Grand National on Don’t Push It at Aintree in April 2010. What made this victory even sweeter for AP is the fact that it was one of the few remaining titles that have eluded him and the win came only after 13 failed attempts. Indeed, his triumphal ride at Aintree is the last remaining piece of his personal racing puzzle after having won in the Cheltenham Cup, Champion Chase, Champion Hurdle and King George VI Chase.

Anthony Peter McCoy was born on the 4th of May 1974 in County Antrim, Ireland. He snatched is first ever winner in March 1992 in Ireland at the age of 17. Known for his grit and iron will, A.P. McCoy dedication to the sports is legendary. During his maiden season, he was able to log a record 74 winners and snatched the conditional jockey’s title, and in the following season (1995/96), AP was declared champion jockey. AP McCoy reached the 1000-winner mark with the fastest time and won titles in virtually all big races.

Since his triumph in the 1996 edition of the Grand Annual Chase, AP has strung up 13 successful rides and among his notable wins was in 1997, where he won the Smurfit Champion Hurdle and the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup on Make a Stand. He again set a new record of sorts when he was named Personality of the Year in 2010 by BBC Sports, the first jockey that ever won the award.

Having a 1.78 meter frame, A.P. McCoy diet regimen is as newsworthy as his triumphal rides. In order to maintain his low weight, AP would literally starve himself to 63.5 kg, although his natural weight is pegged at 73 kg. He would go through excruciating and strength sapping routine of going on a run, having a bath and getting out of the routine totally exhausted. He has been through more than 680 falls throughout his storied career and he has come out of some of these bone-crashing incidents with fractures in the lower and middle vertebrae, ribs, cheekbones, shoulder blades, a leg, an ankle and a wrist.

You’ll often find the professional punters at the Parade Ring just before the race. But what are these guys looking for? Well, simply they are looking for clues to how a horse will perform in the race.

You don’t need to be a horse whisperer to tell when a horse is in good condition. Just look for tell tale signs that can save you wasting money on ‘no hopers’.

So what are the signs that can have you backing a winner?

Firstly you’ll need to get down to the parade ring about 20 minutes before the race is due to go off.

The horses will come into the ring and parade for a couple of minutes. This is your chance to give them a quick once over.

Look at the horses coat, this will give you the best information on the general condition of the horse. A dull coat is not a good sign, look for coats that have a good shine on them. Also some trainers will keep the horse covered during the parade - are they trying to hide something?

Is the horse calm and alert? Horses that are unhappy may well have their heads down or be very agitated. You want a horse to be calm but alert.

Go with your gut feelings, if you get a good feeling watching one particular horse then go with your gut and get a few quid on it. 

Unbelievably it is now thirty years since Bob Champion won the Grand National on Aldaniti.  In 1979 Bob was riding high in his career as a jockey, when he was given the news that he had cancer in two parts of his body and possibly only a few months to live.

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The Sun newspaper leads it’s sporting content with a touching tribute to legendary Grand National trainer Ginger McCain.

GINGER McCAIN died yesterday … and with him went a part of the Grand National. For as Mick Fitzgerald, who won Aintree’s great race on Rough Quest in 1996, said: “He was the National.” Liverpool’s loveable former taxi driver won the National FOUR times — three with Red Rum (1973, 1974 and 1977) and again with Amberleigh House in 2004. He was Mr Grand National — as much a part of Liverpool legend as The Beatles, Bill Shankly’s Kop kings, and comedians Ken Dodd and Jimmy Tarbuck. His story was real rags-to-riches stuff.

How To Pick a Grand National Winne

When Mon Mome romped home in the 2009 Grand National as a rank 100/1 outsider pundits everywhere were stunned. It just proves that picking a National winner is very difficult but the good news is that it’s not impossible. We can show you a couple of things to look out for when selecting your horses.

1. Weight is critical to Grand National Success

Hedgehunter became the first winner since Corbiere to carry over 11st to victory. A pound here or there over 11st should not be a major worry but do not bet on a horse to win if it carries over 11st 3lbs. The simple fact is only one other horse in history has managed to win with that kind of weight and that was Red Rum! The 2008 Grand National winner, Comply or Die, weighed 10-09 and the 2009 winner, Mon Mome, weighed 11-00!

2. Stamina is a major factor

The Grand National is a grueling race for any horse but only those with experience winning at over 3 miles can be expected to be in the running at the end of this race. Not all horses entered will actually have won in previous races over long distances but try to pick one that has at least finished and placed in one. Don’t rule out horses that have previously entered and completed the Grand National, even if they finished nowhere.

3. The age of the horse is very important

Experience counts for much in the National. Eleven out of the last 17 winners were aged ten or above but nine is the new ten and horses are so well trained now that nine year olds are very much in favour. First, second and third place in both the 2008 and 2009 Grand Nationals were all nine years old. Eight is a little on the young side and don’t back any seven year olds as it’s been 67 years since one won and few even finish the course!

4. Nationality of the horse

Previously I would have suggested that you forget the French bred horses and despite the tremendous win from Mon Mome in 2009, I still stand by that because regardless of what people may say, they just can’t go the distance in this race. Irish and British horses are specifically trained day in and day out, all year around, for this kind of steeplechase so go with one of them!

Summary Every now and then a major upset happens at the Grand National and the rule book goes out the window but if you want to give yourself the best chance of picking a winner then consider our tips… Go for a nine/ten year old horse that weighs approx. 10-07 to 11 stone, who has run and finished at least one previous race of at least three miles, entered with an experienced jockey and, if possible, make it Irish or British! And finally… sign up with an online bookmaker to avoid the queues at the local bookies on saturday morning. Paddy Power are giving new customers a free bet if you sign-up today.

With the 2011 Grand National weights having been announced the trials for the race will take even greater prominence, as everyone will be trying to spot the best-handicapped horses.  

So far this season, a number of the main contenders have been plying their trade over hurdles, as trainers have attempted to protect the handicap marks of the National runners. Now that the weights have been allottedthough, more will be runners contesting chases as they attempt to get their eye in for the jumping challenge that National fences offer and these performances could give punters a good idea of which horses are set to do well come the big race itself. There should certainly be some good Grand National tips on show in the coming weeks.

Haydock Park on Saturday is the place to be if it’s National clues you are after. West End Rocker, who is trained by Alan King, runs in the 3 mile, 4 furlong Grand National trial and he’ll line-up with strong claims. The 9-year old is a bit of a rarity among this year’s National contenders, in that he has been campaigned over fences this season. His results have been outstanding; winning both starts and has looked a hugely improved performer. His National weight of 10st 5lb looks fair and he’ll have supporters if he can maintain his form on Saturday.  

Silver By Nature, King Fontaine, Mobaasher and Le Beau Bai are other National entries and will take part in the Haydock trial.

The 2010 John Smith’s Grand National winner Don’t Push It caught the eye in the opening race on Newbury’s rescheduled Totesport Trophy card on Friday, staying-on well from off the pace to finish on the heels of the leaders in a competitive three-mile handicap hurdle, writes Elliot Slater. 

In the week when the official weights were published for the Aintree marathon and last year’s hero was saddled with joint-top weight of 11st 10lbs, trainer Jonjo O’Neill began the preparation of the 11-year-old in earnest, sending him to the class 3 Newbury contest under amateur pilot Alan Berry, (who claimed 3lbs), as champion jockey Tony McCoy who partnered the horse to his famous Grand National success last April, was claimed to ride owner JP McManus’s apparent first-string Cappagh (finished unplaced), for Philip Hobbs. 

Having only his second outing since Liverpool last year and his first since pulling up in a Cheltenham handicap hurdle back in December, the Old Vic gelding was sent off the 40/1 outsider of the field but really caught the eye down the home straight, staying-on strongly from the second last to press for a bunch finish for fifth place. The outing should have brought O’Neill’s charge a step closer to being just where he needs to be for Aintree in seven weeks time and anyone with a Grand National free bet to place should take note of the run.

No horse has run back-to-back runnings of the Grand National since the legendary Red Rum in 1974, and under a very big weight it is asking a great deal of Don’t Push It to follow-up. Comply Or Die and Hedgehunter have both run gallant races in defeat but not managed to get their head in front, but that hasn’t stopped some firms reacting to Don’t Push It’s Newbury effort by cutting him from 20/1 to 16/1 co-second favourite for the Aintree spectacular. 

Noel Glynn’s John Smith’s Grand National candidate Becauseicouldntsee faces a desperate race against time to be fit and well in time to take his chance in the Aintree marathon after undergoing surgery on a hind leg that was damaged after his most recent outing when finishing second at Leopardstown, writes Elliot Slater.

The eight-year-old Beneficial gelding (generally on offer at 25/1 for the Grand National in the ante-post lists), sustained a cut to his hind leg that later became infected when some bony tissue grew over the wound. Glynn, who was not initially concerned by the injury, then took the decision to have the wound treated with surgery, but there has to be a big doubt as to whether he can recover full fitness in time for the big race on April 9 and anyone looking to place a Grand National bet should remember this.

It would be a big shame if Glynn’s talented stayer was to miss his chance as he ran a cracker at Leopardstown to be second to the useful Majestic Concorde in the valuable Paddy Power Chase, a performance that marked him out as a serious candidate for Liverpool. Generally a very sound jumper, Becauseicouldntsee had ended last term with a great effort in finishing a brave second to Poker de Sivola in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, after which connections hatched the plan to bid for the Grand National with the still relatively unexposed young horse.

Glynn believes his charge has a 50-50 chance of recovering in time to make the big race, pointing out that despite the injury the gelding never missed a day’s work and retains good basic fitness. He had originally planned to have a run at Cheltenham, but now, if all goes well with the recovery, Becauseicouldntsee will go straight to Aintree without a prep race.