The excitement and anticipation continue to build towards this season’s Irish Grand National. The momentous race is part of the Easter Festival at Fairyhouse and has a tremendous history, reaching back to its first edition in 1870. The Irish Grand National is a three-mile, five-furlong contest for five-year-olds and up, and it is one of the leading fixtures in Irish Racing.
The best of the best – previous Irish Grand National winners
Since 1946, only one horse has won back-to-back fixtures – Brown Lad in 1975 and 1976. While he missed out on a straight hat-trick in 1977, Brown Lad did bounce back to claim a third Irish National crown in 1978 as a 10-year-old.
The race has rarely been a happy hunting ground for veteran horses of 10 years and above. It’s a tough race to roll back the years, grind out the long distance, and hold off much younger company.
Only three horses older than nine have won the Irish Grand National since the turn of the century. Here, we have chosen seven of the best veteran horses who have proven that age is no obstacle by taking home a win at Fairyhouse.
Desert Orchid – 1990 – 11 years old
The journey starts with the great Desert Orchid, one of the most loved and revered horses of all time. Dessie was a steeplechase star, and the year after scoring the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1989, he delivered at Fairyhouse.
As a nod to the bravery and class of Desert Orchid, he was top weight in the 1990 Irish Grand National as an 11-year-old but was still an even-money favourite, an unthinkable quote for a modern runner.
Even though he made a mistake on the final fence, Desert Orchid still managed to win by a staggering 12 lengths. He was ridden to success by well-known jockey Richard Dunwoody.
Omerta – 1991 – 11 years old
Omerta had a short career, winning three out of 10 chases. Just two weeks after landing the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival, he went to Fairyhouse to take on the Irish Grand National for trainer Martin Pipe as the 6/1F.
He got the score, but only by a short head against Cahervillahow. With the two well clear of the pack at the last, Omerta, ridden by Adrian Maguire, jumped the final fence just ahead but trailed his rival down the home straight. However, Maguire kept his charge going and just pulled ahead with the finish line looming in a thrilling finish.
Flashing Steel – 1995 – 10 years old
Ridden by jockey Jamie Osborne, Flashing Steel scored as a 10-year-old in the 1995 Irish Grand National. He was always hanging in the mix near the front and was ridden superbly by Osborne, who kept him in an excellent position to launch an attack.
Flashing Steel moved through the gears from four out and quickly reeled in 11-year-old Rust Never Sleeps, to hit the front after a powerful finish on the flat. Flashing Steel took the score from a 9/1 SP in a good year for the older campaigners.
Mudahim – 1997 – 11 years old
Trained by Philip Hobbs, Mudahim arguably never entirely delivered on all his promise and potential. After some average form at the start of 1997, he was still respected enough from a 13/2 SP in the 1997 Irish Grand National.
This all-action renewal of the Irish Grand National boiled down to a photo finish between Mudahim and Amble Speedy after two of the final three jumps were bypassed due to fallen horses.
While the deliberations were going on after the finish, pundits and bookmakers favoured Amble Speedy. However, the official result showed that Mudahim had been handed the score. Ridden by Jason Titley, Mudahim’s victory scored a Grand Slam of Grand Nationals for legendary trainer Jenny Pitman.
Granit d’Estruval – 2004 – 10 years old
Granit d’Estruval upset the odds at the 2004 Irish Grand National. He wasn’t hotly fancied in the fixture and went off as a 33/1 outsider for trainer Ferdy Murphy. Ridden by Brian Harding, he looked to be just hanging on the tails of the leading contenders for the first part of the race.
However, Granit d’Estruval started to make a move in a solid second half of the fixture and was second with seven to jump. After clearing the fifth from home, he was out in the lead, but there was still so much work to do from the front. Instead of fading, he improved, gaining confidence with every stride as he beat Marcus Du Belais by half a length. The top three were at least 20/1 on an excellent day for the underdogs.
Lion Na Bearnai – 2012 – 10 years old
Ireland celebrated a home success in the 2012 Grand National at Fairyhouse thanks to Lion Na Bearnai, trained by Thomas Gibney. It was also a convincing score for the 33/1 shot, ridden by Andrew Thornton.
He was involved in an excellent duel at the last fence with another Irish challenger, Out Now, who was putting pressure on him. However, in the closing stages, Lion Na Bearnai was able to widen the gap, winning by four and a half lengths against his younger challenger.
Liberty Counsel – 2013 – 10 years old
Despite having no form in the 2013 Irish Grand National build-up, Liberty Counsel put in a fine effort for jockey Ben Dalton. The lack of optimism in Liberty Counsel, trained by Dot Love, was reflected by the 50/1 SP she went off at. After the first circuit, she was ninth and did not look like a threat.
Four from home, however, she had closed on the front pack and continued to charge, taking the lead five from home. The mare was still under tremendous pressure, though, and her jumping wasn’t fluent by that stage. Liberty Counsel kept rallying, however, and hung in there by half a length, with the hardening ground conditions playing to her favour at the finish.
Looking forward to 2024
It has been over a decade since Liberty Counsel’s score; the last time a winner of the Irish Grand National was over nine years old. That run doesn’t look likely to change in 2024, as it’s the younger crop throwing down the strongest challenges.
Intense Raffles, Hartur D’arc and Desertmore House are among the leading contenders in what is shaping up to be an even contest. Hot off his Dublin and Cheltenham Festival successes, leading Irish trainer Willie Mullins has a crucial contender in this year’s renewal in Nick Rockett. The winner of last year’s edition for Mullins, I Am Maximus, is also expected to be back.
In the last 20 editions, Mullins, Mouse Morris, Dermot McLoughlin and Jonjo O’Neill scored two winners, while no jockey has won it more than once in the previous decade. Keep an eye on the weather, and with six, seven and eight-year-olds shining in recent times, it may be worth sticking in that zone, with the ideal weight of no more than 10-8.
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