.jpg){kind=link}
2025 BoyleSports Irish Grand National: What the connections say
Thursday, 17 April 2025
Final declarations for the 2025 BoyleSports Irish Grand National will be confirmed at 10am this Saturday but with 49 horses still standing and four days to go until Easter Monday’s Fairyhouse feature, here is the latest from connections…
Rebecca Curtis, trainer of Haiti Couleurs
“He seems in really good form, healthy and well. So, we’re very excited to be bringing him over to Ireland. I couldn’t be happier with the horse. It was great to win at Cheltenham and he came out of that really well. He had a nice easy couple of weeks after and he’s been back in full swing for the last month. So, it’s all systems go and we’re looking forward to our first runner in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National, and in fact, our first runner in Fairyhouse.”
Gavin Cromwell, trainer of Bioluminescence, Malina Girl, Yeah Man, Now Is The Hour, Mint Boy, Final Orders, Noble Birth, Union Station
“We have six definitely in it and Noble Birth needs one to come out. Union Station won’t get in now.
“We’re looking very likely to be running Bioluminescence now that we have gotten that rain and the more that comes the better. She’s very effective on heavy and we’re not going to get that but the softer the better and she’s in good form. With the handicap mark, I don’t know, that remains to be seen, but hopefully she can be competitive off it.
“Malina Girl was third in the Ultima so the trip should be no problem to her. She probably wouldn’t want it to be too soft and I don’t think it will be. She’s a small little thing with small feet and deeper ground is probably just a little too much for her but we’re not going to have that. She’s in great form. She’s probably quite exposed to the handicapper but she’s in great nick and hopefully she can run well. She’s very consistent and been a great mare really.
“The rain is certainly welcome for Yeah Man and he should stay the trip fine. Again, he’s one that’s probably exposed to the handicapper but the race should suit him and if he gets a bit of luck in running, he should run well.
“The softer the better for Now Is The Hour. That won’t be a problem to him. A clear round of jumping is important. He probably is a little bit exposed to the handicapper now, unfortunately. He was a lot lower and went up 15lbs without winning a race or picking up barely any prize money but that’s the nature of it. He was running a big race when he came down at the second-last in the National Hunt Chase. You couldn’t say he’d have won but you couldn’t say he was beat either.
“We’re hoping there could be scope in Mint Boy’s handicap mark. He obviously needs a clear round of jumping after a silly mistake in Cheltenham when he unseated Barry O’Neill. But he should be suited to it. The trip shouldn’t be a problem to him. It’s a little bit of an unknown but I think he should be fine with it.
“Final Orders ran a big race in Downpatrick but just ran into a better handicapped horse in Dunboyne. He wouldn’t want the ground to get too soft. He seems in good form at home but it’s probably coming soon enough after the Ulster National. Those staying handicaps take plenty out of a horse but he seems in good form at home and he’s a nice racing weight so hopefully he can run well.
“It would be great if Noble Birth could get in. I’d say he’d be pretty versatile in terms of the ground and he’s been working well. He’s maybe lacking a run. I’m sorry I didn’t give him a run over hurdles but he’s as fit as we can get him at home and he seems in good order.”
Patrick Mullins, assistant to Willie Mullins, trainer of High Class Hero, Quai De Bourbon, Sa Majeste, Klarc Kent
“Quai De Bourbon has been unlucky in Cheltenham and Aintree, but perhaps that will be the silver lining on two clouds as he comes into Fairyhouse without having had hard races. Obviously, his jumping will have to stand up but I thought he jumped well in Aintree in the main before being brought down.
“High Class Hero has some top-class graded form and I think a trip and good ground will suit him well.
“Sa Majeste gets in with a nice racing weight. He ran very well in Cheltenham and nicer ground might bring more improvement in him.
“Klarc Kent ran a huge race when just caught late on in the Scottish National by Captain Cody but he won’t get in.”
Gordon Elliott, trainer of Better Days Ahead, Duffle Coat, Favori De Champdou, Search For Glory, Shecouldbeanything, Stuzzikini, Tullybeg, Will Do, Cleatus Poolaw, Fortunedefortunata, Jumping Jet
“It’s good to see the rain coming for Better Days Ahead and the more that falls the better for him. The ground was a bit quick for him at Cheltenham but he still ran very well. With the ground coming right, I think the track and the trip will suit him. He’s a talented horse.
“Duffle Coat will hopefully be a bit luckier than he was at Aintree and Cheltenham. He was fourth when brought down two out in the National Hunt Chase and then only made it as far as the third in Aintree.
“Favori De Champdou was third in the Thyestes, which Nick Rockett won and was third in the Grand National Trial at Punchestown after that, so it was good to see him win well at Down Royal.
“Search For Glory doesn’t always help himself with his jumping but if he gets it all together, is a talented horse. He seems to have come out of the Ultima well (where he was seventh) and I think the trip will suit him, as would the rain.
“Shecouldbeanything flourished through the autumn, winning four on the trot, and then running well in the Drinmore and then the Dawn Run Mares’ Chase at Limerick over Christmas. We freshened her up after that and she ran a cracker in third in the Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham. It will be her first go at this sort of a trip.
“Stuzzikini won the Troytown but didn’t get competitive in the Thyestes or the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham but a return to his best form would entitle him to take his chance.
“Tullybeg goes into it off a long lay-off, since Killarney in August, but he is well at home.
“Will Do would have a big chance if he could sneak in at the bottom. He needs five to come out so we’ll be crossing our fingers. He stays well and will be galloping on when others are getting tired as he showed in the National Hunt Chase when closing all the time in third.
“Cleatus Poolaw, Fortunedefortunata and Jumping Jet don’t look like they will get in at this stage.”
Seán Doyle, trainer of Monbeg Park
“We’re going to run but we don’t want to see too much more rain. I think there’s a good bit of rain due tomorrow and that should be it. I was talking to (Fairyhouse manager) Peter Roe and he said it would be no worse than yielding which would be fine.
“He’s in good form. We’re happy and we’re going to roll the dice. He lost a good hurdle race in the stewards’ room at the festival a couple of years ago so he likes it round there. But the ground would be key. If it went soft, it would be a disaster. But it could be grand if there is rain and a day or two of drying after it. It will mean they won’t be watering and that’s probably better. But he’s ready to go.”
AJ O’Neill, joint trainer with Jonjo O’Neill of Johnnywho, Hasthing
“Hasthing is second on the ballot so we’ll have to wait and see whether he gets a run or not. He seemed to be in a grand rhythm when he was unfortunately brought down in the Scottish National. Thankfully him and Jonjo were okay and he seems to have come out of it quite well. He was just unlucky that he got caught up in a bit of carnage.
“He was running a lovely race at Cheltenham in the National Hunt Chase ‘till he came down t the last. He’d schooled well before the Scottish National and just got unlucky there. It wasn’t the horse’s fault. So, we’ll just wait and see if he gets a run.
“Johnnywho has been in good form. He ran a lovely race at Cheltenham (when a neck second to Daily Present in the Kim Muir) and came out of it well. Hopefully we can get another similar performance out of him.
“They have both run well in staying handicap chases so this seemed like a sensible step forward for them.”
Dermot McLoughlin, trainer of Lord Lariat
“Lord Lariat is in great nick and we’re looking forward to him attempting a repeat of his great win in 2022. I would have loved to have gotten a run into him over fences but I couldn’t because of the ground. Obviously, he can jump fences, so you’re not worried about that, and he’s run well in the hurdles’ races since the Porterstown at Fairyhouse in December.
“But I’m happy with him, he’s in a good place. You’d have to be hopeful and it looks a very open race now. And the rain is welcome, it means they won’t have to water anymore and it will be good, safe ground for everyone.
Ted Walsh, trainer of Any Second Now
“He’s as good as he was last year, when he finished second to Intense Raffles, and if that’s good enough or not, I don’t know. We would be happy with the drop of rain but all National Hunt horses will.”
Tom Gibney, trainer of Kinturk Kalinisi
“It was good to see the rain yesterday and there’s another band of rain due to come and that suits him well. The more rain the better. He’s in good form and we’re delighted to be in the race. It has been the plan for him and I wouldn’t be lying if I told you it got mentioned at the Easter meeting last year. So, we’re looking forward to it.”
Martin Brassil, trainer of Desertmore House, Panda Boy
“Panda Boy had a nice run at Naas when he finished third in the Leinster National. We freshened Desertmore House up a bit. We were going to go to Aintree and then decided to wait for Fairyhouse. I’m hoping that the rain will stop, that they won’t get much more and the ground will be no worse than yielding.
“Panda Boy ran well when fifth in the Irish National two years ago, on ground he didn’t like. It was nearly soft to heavy that time. And I Am Maximus was a good winner, seeing as he won at Aintree the following year and was second this year. But Panda Boy really prefers better ground. Both of them do and we’re hoping that if they get the ground, the trip and the track will suit them and they can be competitive.”
Ian Donoghue, trainer of Dunboyne
“He is really well and you can see his confidence has grown again after the Ulster National. That was a great day but the way we’re training him, that will hopefully have brought him on another bit. If he gets a bit of luck in running, he will hopefully be involved in the business end. He owes us nothing but it’s great to see him back enjoying himself and it is great to be in a race that means so much with some sort of a chance.”
Paul Gilligan, trainer of Sequestered
“All being well, the plan is to run. It’s been the plan since Leopardstown. He didn’t run too bad at Cheltenham. The undulations of the track my not have suited him. I think a big, galloping track like Fairyhouse is going to suit him better and he seems in really good form. He did a super bit of work last Friday, as good a bit of work as he’s ever done, so hopefully all will go well.”
Paul Nolan, trainer of Daily Present
“We were delighted to win at Cheltenham and that was the aim. It was great it worked out. He’s been well since. He should stay well and the ground should be grand, so if things go right for him, he’ll have his chance. I hope he’ll run respectable but always, after Cheltenham, you don’t know what it takes out of them. You’re just freshening them up from then to now. He seems well and we’re hoping he’ll run a decent race.”
Matthew Smith, trainer of Moonovercloon, Another Choice
“Both of the horses are in good form. Moonovercloon is scraping in there at the bottom. He has never won over fences but he has some nice, placed form from last year. He will be trying that trip for the first time but I think it will suit him. And the low weight will obviously help him in that regard. You couldn’t be confident but you’d be hopeful of a good run.
“Another Choice is third on the ballot so he will need a bit of luck to get a run. He ran a cracker when second in the Porterstown Chase at the beginning of December so he is proven around a test at Fairyhouse.”
Oliver McKiernan, trainer of Bushmans Pass
“We’re happy to get him into it anyway! He’s hard enough to keep together but the bit of rain is going to suit him from that point of view. He’s had the odd bit of leg trouble, which makes it hard enough to train hard enough for a race like the Irish National. But he’s in great form and trip should be fine if he gets that far.
“It was a grand run to win the Leinster National in Naas on probably better-ish ground, which was something we were concerned about. But the rain will take the sting out of the ground at least in Fairyhouse so we’re looking forward to it.”
Henry de Bromhead, trainer of Harry Des Ongrais
“He seems well. He’s in good form. We’re happy with him. Obviously, the trip is an unknown and definitely the rain will have helped him. But he’s good and we’re looking forward to it.”
Rebecca Curtis, trainer of Haiti Couleurs
“He seems in really good form, healthy and well. So, we’re very excited to be bringing him over to Ireland. I couldn’t be happier with the horse. It was great to win at Cheltenham and he came out of that really well. He had a nice easy couple of weeks after and he’s been back in full swing for the last month. So, it’s all systems go and we’re looking forward to our first runner in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National, and in fact, our first runner in Fairyhouse.”
Gavin Cromwell, trainer of Bioluminescence, Malina Girl, Yeah Man, Now Is The Hour, Mint Boy, Final Orders, Noble Birth, Union Station
“We have six definitely in it and Noble Birth needs one to come out. Union Station won’t get in now.
“We’re looking very likely to be running Bioluminescence now that we have gotten that rain and the more that comes the better. She’s very effective on heavy and we’re not going to get that but the softer the better and she’s in good form. With the handicap mark, I don’t know, that remains to be seen, but hopefully she can be competitive off it.
“Malina Girl was third in the Ultima so the trip should be no problem to her. She probably wouldn’t want it to be too soft and I don’t think it will be. She’s a small little thing with small feet and deeper ground is probably just a little too much for her but we’re not going to have that. She’s in great form. She’s probably quite exposed to the handicapper but she’s in great nick and hopefully she can run well. She’s very consistent and been a great mare really.
“The rain is certainly welcome for Yeah Man and he should stay the trip fine. Again, he’s one that’s probably exposed to the handicapper but the race should suit him and if he gets a bit of luck in running, he should run well.
“The softer the better for Now Is The Hour. That won’t be a problem to him. A clear round of jumping is important. He probably is a little bit exposed to the handicapper now, unfortunately. He was a lot lower and went up 15lbs without winning a race or picking up barely any prize money but that’s the nature of it. He was running a big race when he came down at the second-last in the National Hunt Chase. You couldn’t say he’d have won but you couldn’t say he was beat either.
“We’re hoping there could be scope in Mint Boy’s handicap mark. He obviously needs a clear round of jumping after a silly mistake in Cheltenham when he unseated Barry O’Neill. But he should be suited to it. The trip shouldn’t be a problem to him. It’s a little bit of an unknown but I think he should be fine with it.
“Final Orders ran a big race in Downpatrick but just ran into a better handicapped horse in Dunboyne. He wouldn’t want the ground to get too soft. He seems in good form at home but it’s probably coming soon enough after the Ulster National. Those staying handicaps take plenty out of a horse but he seems in good form at home and he’s a nice racing weight so hopefully he can run well.
“It would be great if Noble Birth could get in. I’d say he’d be pretty versatile in terms of the ground and he’s been working well. He’s maybe lacking a run. I’m sorry I didn’t give him a run over hurdles but he’s as fit as we can get him at home and he seems in good order.”
Patrick Mullins, assistant to Willie Mullins, trainer of High Class Hero, Quai De Bourbon, Sa Majeste, Klarc Kent
“Quai De Bourbon has been unlucky in Cheltenham and Aintree, but perhaps that will be the silver lining on two clouds as he comes into Fairyhouse without having had hard races. Obviously, his jumping will have to stand up but I thought he jumped well in Aintree in the main before being brought down.
“High Class Hero has some top-class graded form and I think a trip and good ground will suit him well.
“Sa Majeste gets in with a nice racing weight. He ran very well in Cheltenham and nicer ground might bring more improvement in him.
“Klarc Kent ran a huge race when just caught late on in the Scottish National by Captain Cody but he won’t get in.”
Gordon Elliott, trainer of Better Days Ahead, Duffle Coat, Favori De Champdou, Search For Glory, Shecouldbeanything, Stuzzikini, Tullybeg, Will Do, Cleatus Poolaw, Fortunedefortunata, Jumping Jet
“It’s good to see the rain coming for Better Days Ahead and the more that falls the better for him. The ground was a bit quick for him at Cheltenham but he still ran very well. With the ground coming right, I think the track and the trip will suit him. He’s a talented horse.
“Duffle Coat will hopefully be a bit luckier than he was at Aintree and Cheltenham. He was fourth when brought down two out in the National Hunt Chase and then only made it as far as the third in Aintree.
“Favori De Champdou was third in the Thyestes, which Nick Rockett won and was third in the Grand National Trial at Punchestown after that, so it was good to see him win well at Down Royal.
“Search For Glory doesn’t always help himself with his jumping but if he gets it all together, is a talented horse. He seems to have come out of the Ultima well (where he was seventh) and I think the trip will suit him, as would the rain.
“Shecouldbeanything flourished through the autumn, winning four on the trot, and then running well in the Drinmore and then the Dawn Run Mares’ Chase at Limerick over Christmas. We freshened her up after that and she ran a cracker in third in the Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham. It will be her first go at this sort of a trip.
“Stuzzikini won the Troytown but didn’t get competitive in the Thyestes or the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham but a return to his best form would entitle him to take his chance.
“Tullybeg goes into it off a long lay-off, since Killarney in August, but he is well at home.
“Will Do would have a big chance if he could sneak in at the bottom. He needs five to come out so we’ll be crossing our fingers. He stays well and will be galloping on when others are getting tired as he showed in the National Hunt Chase when closing all the time in third.
“Cleatus Poolaw, Fortunedefortunata and Jumping Jet don’t look like they will get in at this stage.”
Seán Doyle, trainer of Monbeg Park
“We’re going to run but we don’t want to see too much more rain. I think there’s a good bit of rain due tomorrow and that should be it. I was talking to (Fairyhouse manager) Peter Roe and he said it would be no worse than yielding which would be fine.
“He’s in good form. We’re happy and we’re going to roll the dice. He lost a good hurdle race in the stewards’ room at the festival a couple of years ago so he likes it round there. But the ground would be key. If it went soft, it would be a disaster. But it could be grand if there is rain and a day or two of drying after it. It will mean they won’t be watering and that’s probably better. But he’s ready to go.”
AJ O’Neill, joint trainer with Jonjo O’Neill of Johnnywho, Hasthing
“Hasthing is second on the ballot so we’ll have to wait and see whether he gets a run or not. He seemed to be in a grand rhythm when he was unfortunately brought down in the Scottish National. Thankfully him and Jonjo were okay and he seems to have come out of it quite well. He was just unlucky that he got caught up in a bit of carnage.
“He was running a lovely race at Cheltenham in the National Hunt Chase ‘till he came down t the last. He’d schooled well before the Scottish National and just got unlucky there. It wasn’t the horse’s fault. So, we’ll just wait and see if he gets a run.
“Johnnywho has been in good form. He ran a lovely race at Cheltenham (when a neck second to Daily Present in the Kim Muir) and came out of it well. Hopefully we can get another similar performance out of him.
“They have both run well in staying handicap chases so this seemed like a sensible step forward for them.”
Dermot McLoughlin, trainer of Lord Lariat
“Lord Lariat is in great nick and we’re looking forward to him attempting a repeat of his great win in 2022. I would have loved to have gotten a run into him over fences but I couldn’t because of the ground. Obviously, he can jump fences, so you’re not worried about that, and he’s run well in the hurdles’ races since the Porterstown at Fairyhouse in December.
“But I’m happy with him, he’s in a good place. You’d have to be hopeful and it looks a very open race now. And the rain is welcome, it means they won’t have to water anymore and it will be good, safe ground for everyone.
Ted Walsh, trainer of Any Second Now
“He’s as good as he was last year, when he finished second to Intense Raffles, and if that’s good enough or not, I don’t know. We would be happy with the drop of rain but all National Hunt horses will.”
Tom Gibney, trainer of Kinturk Kalinisi
“It was good to see the rain yesterday and there’s another band of rain due to come and that suits him well. The more rain the better. He’s in good form and we’re delighted to be in the race. It has been the plan for him and I wouldn’t be lying if I told you it got mentioned at the Easter meeting last year. So, we’re looking forward to it.”
Martin Brassil, trainer of Desertmore House, Panda Boy
“Panda Boy had a nice run at Naas when he finished third in the Leinster National. We freshened Desertmore House up a bit. We were going to go to Aintree and then decided to wait for Fairyhouse. I’m hoping that the rain will stop, that they won’t get much more and the ground will be no worse than yielding.
“Panda Boy ran well when fifth in the Irish National two years ago, on ground he didn’t like. It was nearly soft to heavy that time. And I Am Maximus was a good winner, seeing as he won at Aintree the following year and was second this year. But Panda Boy really prefers better ground. Both of them do and we’re hoping that if they get the ground, the trip and the track will suit them and they can be competitive.”
Ian Donoghue, trainer of Dunboyne
“He is really well and you can see his confidence has grown again after the Ulster National. That was a great day but the way we’re training him, that will hopefully have brought him on another bit. If he gets a bit of luck in running, he will hopefully be involved in the business end. He owes us nothing but it’s great to see him back enjoying himself and it is great to be in a race that means so much with some sort of a chance.”
Paul Gilligan, trainer of Sequestered
“All being well, the plan is to run. It’s been the plan since Leopardstown. He didn’t run too bad at Cheltenham. The undulations of the track my not have suited him. I think a big, galloping track like Fairyhouse is going to suit him better and he seems in really good form. He did a super bit of work last Friday, as good a bit of work as he’s ever done, so hopefully all will go well.”
Paul Nolan, trainer of Daily Present
“We were delighted to win at Cheltenham and that was the aim. It was great it worked out. He’s been well since. He should stay well and the ground should be grand, so if things go right for him, he’ll have his chance. I hope he’ll run respectable but always, after Cheltenham, you don’t know what it takes out of them. You’re just freshening them up from then to now. He seems well and we’re hoping he’ll run a decent race.”
Matthew Smith, trainer of Moonovercloon, Another Choice
“Both of the horses are in good form. Moonovercloon is scraping in there at the bottom. He has never won over fences but he has some nice, placed form from last year. He will be trying that trip for the first time but I think it will suit him. And the low weight will obviously help him in that regard. You couldn’t be confident but you’d be hopeful of a good run.
“Another Choice is third on the ballot so he will need a bit of luck to get a run. He ran a cracker when second in the Porterstown Chase at the beginning of December so he is proven around a test at Fairyhouse.”
Oliver McKiernan, trainer of Bushmans Pass
“We’re happy to get him into it anyway! He’s hard enough to keep together but the bit of rain is going to suit him from that point of view. He’s had the odd bit of leg trouble, which makes it hard enough to train hard enough for a race like the Irish National. But he’s in great form and trip should be fine if he gets that far.
“It was a grand run to win the Leinster National in Naas on probably better-ish ground, which was something we were concerned about. But the rain will take the sting out of the ground at least in Fairyhouse so we’re looking forward to it.”
Henry de Bromhead, trainer of Harry Des Ongrais
“He seems well. He’s in good form. We’re happy with him. Obviously, the trip is an unknown and definitely the rain will have helped him. But he’s good and we’re looking forward to it.”