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The Irish Grand National 2024 is upon us and although it's not as thought of as the English Grand National it's still a cracking spectacle and one of the most exciting and competitive races in the National Hunt calendar.
I've created a step by step guide to the race below which includes some key facts and figures which you may find helpful when picking your selection if you do decide on placing a bet.
When is the Irish Grand National?
The date of the race changes each year but tends to fall in line with the Easter holidays. This years Irish Grand National will be run on Monday 1st April 2024 at 17:00 at Fairyhouse.
Irish Grand National 2024 confirmed runners
There are only 30 horses allowed to race in the 2024 Irish Grand National. Currently, 33 Irish Grand National runners have been announced, and there’s betting available at most of the top end betting sites. With the maximum amount of runners allowed only being 30 and with ground conditions possibly changing due to weather you could find trainers withdrawing their horses so be aware that the list below could change.
With this in mind, you should look for bookies offering Non Runner No Bet insurance. This offer, often shortened to NRNB or NRNB (non-runner money-back), guarantees you’ll get your stake back if your horse doesn’t take part in the race for any reason.
The 21 horses and riders for the 2024 Irish Grand National are as follows:
- Minella Cocooner – Danny Mullins
- Churchstonewarrior – Michael O'Sullivan
- Nick Rockett – Paul Townend
- Favori De Champdou – Danny Gilligan
- Senior Chief – Rachael Blackmore
- Any Second Now – Mark Walsh
- Intense Raffles – JJ Slevin
- Yeah Man – Keith Donoghue
- Diol Ker – Kieren Buckley
- Dunboyne – Sam Ewing
- Hartur D'Arc – Sean Flanagan
- Frontal Assault – Carl Millar
- Where It All Began – Jack Kennedy
- Cool Survivor – Jordan Gainford
- Good Time Jonny – Phillip Enright
- Street Value – Darragh O'Keeffe
- Daily Present – Paul Nolan
- Royal Thief – Kevin Sexton
- We'llhavewan – Kieran Callaghan
- Where's Frankie – Donagh Meyler
- History Of Fashion – Richard Condon
Current market leaders and their biggest achievements to date in my opinion.
Nick Rockett – 2023 Dunboyne Castle Novice winner – 7/2
Intense Raffles – 2024 Irish Stallion Farms winner – 6/1
Hartur Darc – 2024 Leinster National Handicap Chase winner – 8/1
Yeah Man – 2024 Grand National Trial winner – 9/1
Any Second Now – 2022 Grand National 2nd Place – 10/1
Wellhavewan – 2023 Navan Handicap Hurdle winner – 14/1
Previous winners of the Irish Grand National
The Irish Grand National has been far from a favourites playground over the years and has tended to throw up surprises. The one that you may remember was Free Wheelin Dylan who landed the race at odds of 150/1 back in 2021.
I've added below a list of previous winners of the race which will give you an idea of the surprises its thrown up in the past.
2023 – I Am Maximus – 8/1 – Willie Mullins – Paul Townend
2022 – Lord Lariat – 40/1 – Dermot McLoughlin – Paddy O’Hanlon
2021 – Freewheelin Dylan – 150/1 – Dermot McLoughlin – Ricky Doyle
2020 – Race was Cancelled
2019 – Burrows Saint – 6/1 – Willie Mullins – Ruby Walsh
2018 – General Principle – 20/1 – Gordon Elliott – J J Slevin
2017 – Our Duke – 9/2 – Jessica Harrington – Robbie Power
2016 – Rogue Angle – 16/1 – Mouse Morris – Ger Fox
2015 – Thunder and Roses – 20/1 – Sandra Hughes – Katie Walsh
2014 – Shutthefrontdoor – 8/1 – Jonjo O’Neill – Barry Geraghty
2013 – Liberty Counsel – 50/1 – Dot Love – Ben Dalton
Key betting trends for the Irish Grand National
Nothing is ever guaranteed in this game but looking back at past betting trends can certainly aid your chances of picking a winner or at the very least gaining some each way profit, you can really go into depth and pick the bones out of previous runnings of this race and to be honest I'm not a massive fan of looking at it that way but one piece of information popped out to me as being possibly vital when coming to picking your selection.
A whopping 18 of the previous 20 winners of this race carried less than 11 stone.
What betting sites are offering the most places in the Irish Grand National?
I've had a glance at some of the bigger firms to see what they are offering punters in terms of places for each way betting and of course some are offering more than others. I've added below the bookmakers I would advise to use if you decide on having a bet in the race. Be aware offers may change from time of writing.
Bet365 – Offering 6 places 1/5 odds
Skybet – Offering 6 Places 1/5 odds
Who are your selections for the Irish Grand National?
Similar to the British Grand National this race is as competitive as it gets and It's certainly not one for throwing the wallet at in terms of stakes. I advise taking it for what it is and to not get carried away with it.
I've two selections for this race, I've advised one as straight to win and the other as each way.
My first and main selection is the Gavin Cromwell trained Yeah Man who is currently marked up at 9/1. The price has slightly shortened from around 12/1 which is a tad disappointing but he is definitely still worth a bet.
Yeah Man was rather disappointing on chase debut when finishing down the field but he has massively improved since that performance. He ran a cracking race in the Sodexo Gold Cup at Ascot in November. He ended up falling at the last fence and although he wasn't going to win the race he would of guaranteed second spot ahead of some decent types.
The fall at Ascot seemed to have no issue on him next time out as he finished second in the Howden Silver Cup over the same course and distance. Yeah Man then went one better last time out when showing great determination to knuckle down and win the Grand National Trial at Haydock over 3m4f on pretty much bog type ground conditions, he beat some decent sorts that day in the shape of My Silver Lining, Iwilldoit and Iron Bridge.
Due to that most recent win the handicapper has put him up 7Ib which of course makes this task at hand harder however, he’s completely unexposed over marathon type distances and although a career best is probably required I wouldn't rule this 7 year old out in doing just that.
My second play in this race is my each-way selection Favori De Champdou.
I thought Gordon Elliots 9 year old Favori De Champdou represented some value each way at 20/1.
His record going right-handed is pretty impressive, reading 4212111421, a key piece of form that struck out to me was how easily he won the Grade 2 Florida Pearl at Punchestown in November, were he beat home the likes of Sandor Clegane, Maxxum and Flooring Porter.
Worth noting that both Flooring Porter and Sandor Clegane ran decent races in defeat at the Cheltenham Festival last month. I thought the step up in distance and test of stamina could fairly suit my selection and he seems quite well handicapped of a mark of 145.
In December 2020 we sadly 
Firstly I just want to wish Crainzy all the very best on the thread, its a thankless task but hopefully it goes well for you and of course you do mean ENGLISH National not British !!!
It’s not the strongest of renewals with the top rated horse being 148. Usually you would need to be off that mark to get into the race but I think it’s down to the fact that Cheltenham, Fairyhouse and Aintree are so close together. It’s also the reason why there’s only 21 runners instead of the usual 30.
Because of that I think many trends also go out the window although some are still worth taking onboard.
Where’s Frankie ticks every trend box but he was running off 105 in January and having now won 2 of his last 3 and 2nd in the other is now off 123 and may now be in the handicappers grasp.
The one I’ve landed on is WHERE IT ALL BEGAN who was 4th in the Kim Muir so hopefully he has recovered from Cheltenham and can give a good account.
Looking at breeding many of the top NH sires have yet to record a victory. Sires such as
Saddlers Hall
Fleminsfirth
Beneficial
Bob Back
Old Vic.
Where it all began’s Dam Sire is Presenting who has won more renewals than any other sire. He is 10lbs better off with Intense Raffles who beat him 4 1/2L over an inadequate trip.
More winners had also run at Cheltenham lto (6) than any other track.
BOL
Thanks mate,
I always enjoy your views on racing. Good luck today!