Irish Grand National Preview
The 2025 Irish Grand National takes centre stage at Fairyhouse on 21st April. It promises to be another thrilling renewal of one of the most iconic steeplechases in Irish racing. Intense Raffles is looking to make history with back-to-back wins after his triumph in 2024. He can become the first horse to do so in nearly half a century.
The Irish Grand National attracts the best horses and trainers from Ireland and Britain. A bumper field with representatives from some of the best yards in the world will compete next Monday. Willie Mullins, Gavin Cromwell, Gordon Elliott, and Jonjo O’Neill all have strong entrants this year. Read ahead to learn the biggest runners in this race, along with our Irish Grand National predictions.
Irish Grand National Frontrunners
Haiti Couleurs heads the horse racing odds in the build-up to the Irish Grand National. The Rebecca Curtis-trained eight-year-old was brilliant in the National Hunt Challenge Cup at Cheltenham last month, winning by 5L. This distance suits him perfectly, and the forecast rain will further improve his chances.
Willie Mullins brings an army of runners to the Irish National, and his best chance may lie in High Class Hero. He has been saved for this race and carries form figures of 2-1-2 to Fairyhouse. Despite still being a novice, the seven-year-old brings great experience. The trip and ground shouldn’t be an issue. We have seen a growing trend in recent years of heavier horses enjoying this race. Mullins could make it a career hat-trick in the National with one of the top weights.
Jonjo O’Neil is also bidding for a career hat-trick here and has a strong shout with Jonnywho. He was unlucky in the Kim Muir Challenge Cup at Cheltenham last month, beaten by a neck behind Daily Present. Regardless, that was a very impressive run, and a very small mistake from Derek O’Connor cost him some short but valuable momentum. O’Neill Jr is booked to ride again.
Gavin Cromwell brings Now Is The Hour to Fairyhouse after dominating handicaps in Ireland all season. He fell behind Haiti Couleurs at Cheltenham and finished fourth behind Three Card Brag at Navan in January. However, the previous form is strong enough to disregard that fall, and he may have swindled the handicapper at 10-0.
Better Days Ahead had a stellar season for Gordon Elliott. He was third in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase last time out and is another that has been lightly raced in anticipation of this meeting. The form of 2-2 looks excellent, and he leads the way for Elliott as he bids for his second win in this race.
Captain Cody was bang on it when winning the Scottish Grand National and is another in Mullins’ ranks. That performance helped put his run in the National Hunt Challenge Cup behind him. He unseated Danny Mullins in that race but is down over a stone for this meeting and is another who may have got the better of the handicapper.
Captain Cody wins the @Coral Scottish Grand National for @WillieMullinsNH and @CobdenHarry 🏆@ayrracecourse pic.twitter.com/xN5WGfJaKO
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 12, 2025
Yet another Mullins runner, Nick Rockett, looks to do the double after winning the National at Aintree earlier in the month. He’s had a spectacular season that includes a victory on this course and has wins on ground from good to heavy. No horse has ever won the two in the same season, but this eight-year-old has huge claims.
Paul Nolan’s Daily Present rounds out the frontrunners in this race. We last saw him finish in front of Jonnywho by a neck in the Kim Muir Challenge Cup. Only three runs for the eight-year-old this season, but 1-2 in handicaps suggests he has been prepared well for this race.
Irish Grand National Dark Horses
Last year’s winner, Intense Raffles, bids to become the first horse since 1976 to win back-to-back Irish Grand Nationals after his 2024 triumph. He has been lightly raced since then, but most of his reappearances have been disappointing. That includes when he was pulled up in the National at Aintree two weeks ago. This trip is more suited, and JJ Slevin is back to ride after guiding him over the line first last year.
I Am Maximus won this race in 2023 before winning the British Grand National a year later. He finished second in that renewal earlier this month and still looks at the top of his game for Willie Mullins. The nine-year-old loves this course with a 3-1 record over his four runs, and the going will suit him. History is up for grabs once again for this classy horse.
Iroko is one of the few British runners in this race and is the best of the bunch. He was a beaten favourite in the Grand National, but ran a great race, no less. The handicapper has not been very kind to him as he will go off at the same weight, but he has a chance.
Mullins enters Minella Cocooner into this renewal for the second time after he ran strongly in the National at Aintree earlier in April. He was disputing until a mistake on the 23rd, but still finished seventh, just outside the places. This race is better suited, proven by his third in last year’s meeting. He has a win on this course and comes with interesting place claims.
Stumptown had a horrible time in the National at Aintree. He was hampered twice, once by a faller, and the drying conditions weren’t ideal. Additionally, the vet found him to be lame on his right hind leg after sustaining a wound. He has a win over this distance, and Aintree should be left in the past. Better conditions and a kind smile from the handicapper put him in contention more than his odds would suggest.
Irish Grand National Predictions
Winner: Haiti Couleurs
Haiti Couleurs to win the Irish Grand National is the best of our horse racing predictions this weekend. British horses have not had the best time in this meeting, but he is only 6lbs higher than his last run. He is the 7/1 favourite for this race and a victory at Cheltenham sees him enter with three wins from four in chases this season. This would be the perfect way to cap off an excellent novice season.
He has competition from other British runners here, most notably Jonnywho. Jonjo O’Neill’s runner made a great effort in his second-placed finish in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham. He lost by a neck and had the race in his grasp before a mistake. This race has trended towards novices in recent years, and Jonjo O’Neill Jr. can jockey the eight-year-old towards a career hat-trick for his father.
High Class Hero is the best of the Willie Mullins contingent, and his season has been carefully tailored towards this race. He has been very lightly raced but ran well in his appearances and is in great form. Now Is The Hour is another of the Irish horses in the front running for this race. Gavin Cromwell has won just about every Irish handicap there is to win this season. Two out-of-sorts runs have put him on the handicapper’s good side, and this race looks like it could all be in his favour.
Irish Grand National Betting Tips
The Irish Grand National is a tough race to predict. The field can sometimes consist of over 20 runners, and we have seen massive outsiders win in previous years. We have broken down our best tips for the winner of this race.
- Johnnywho: Johnnywho’s run in the Kim Muir showed us a lot to like despite finishing second. Jonjo O’Neill Jr. returns to ride and is the second of a duo of strong British frontrunners. He is worth 10/1 to win this race and will offer great returns as a straight-win bet or each-way.
- High Class Hero: Willie Mullins has kept High Class Hero fresh for this race, and it is time to see if the preparation worked. He has looked classy in his few appearances so far and is the best chance of bringing more glory to the renowned trainer. Mullins has big plans for the eight-year-old, and they could start at Fairyhouse. He is our second-most attractive bet at 10/1.
- Haiti Couleurs: Rebecca Turner’s entrant is only conceding 6 lbs and has excellent form in chases this season. Novices have dominated this race in recent years. Haiti Couleurs is short-priced going by the standards of this event at 7/1. That would still offer strong returns, but there is better value in a race that is so tricky to call.
Place Betting
The size of the field in the Irish Grand National means there are additional places to win when each-way betting. We are already seeing some runners that look overpriced, and you can take advantage of that with our extra place offer.
- Stumptown: Stumptown had a nightmare in the Grand National at Aintree, but much of that was out of his hands. He was unbeaten in four before that, including two over this distance. He has stayed on the right side of the handicapper because of his Aintree run and holds very strong claims here. Stumptown is worth 33/1 and great value for an each-way bet.
- Minella Cocooner: Minella Cocooner was third in this race last year and put on a good display in the Grand National earlier this month before a mistake on the 23rd jump. He still managed a strong finish and was worth a place. Willie Mullins’ entrant can have a better time in a less crowded field and is another with claims. He is worth 25/1 for anyone betting on horse racing.
- I Am Maximus: I Am Maximus is becoming a veteran of Nationals and will run in his fourth on Easter Monday. He won this race in 2023, the Aintree Grand National a year later and finished runner-up at Aintree earlier this month. Mullins’ nine-year-old loves these races and is well-equipped to go for it once again. A bet on I Am Maximus is worth 25/1.
Betting on the Irish Grand National always brings excitement and unpredictability. This year at Fairyhouse, we’re paying out on the top eight places instead of the standard four. Be sure to check back regularly for more great horse racing promotions throughout the year.
