Major Shake-Up in Irish Grand National Field as Top Weights Withdraw
Fourteen of the top 20 withdrawn at confirmations stage ahead of Monday’s €270,000 contest
The shape of the 2025 BoyleSports Irish Grand National has dramatically shifted following the latest confirmation stage, with a number of leading contenders withdrawn just days before the big race at Fairyhouse.
A total of 14 horses ranked among the top 20 in the weights have been taken out, leaving a very different complexion to Ireland’s richest jumps handicap, which carries a prize fund of €270,000.
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Big Names Exit, Including Last Year’s Winner and Aintree Stars
From the original 78 entries, only 49 remain in contention, with several high-profile absentees confirmed on Wednesday. Notably, last year’s winner Intense Raffles will not return to defend his crown, while all of the top five finishers from this month’s Randox Grand National – winner Nick Rockett, runner-up I Am Maximus, third-placed Grangeclare West, fourth-placed Iroko, and fifth-placed Meetingofthewaters – have also been withdrawn.
Their absence opens the door to a host of fresh challengers, with new names now topping the handicap list.
Better Days Ahead Now Carries Top Weight
With the highest-rated entries pulling out, Better Days Ahead, trained by Gordon Elliott, now finds himself at the head of the weights. He’s closely followed by Monbeg Park for Sean Doyle, with Willie Mullins duo High Class Hero and Quai De Bourbon also moving into prominent positions.
Mullins could still field as many as three runners, though Klarc Kent, who remains in the mix, is not yet assured a place in the final line-up. Stablemate Sa Majeste remains a possible too. Gordon Elliott, meanwhile, retains a strong hand and may yet have up to 11 runners if all are declared.
British Contenders: Haiti Couleurs Still Leads the Market
Leading the market is Haiti Couleurs, trained by Rebecca Curtis, who remains on course and heads the betting at 6-1 with BoyleSports. His position as market leader was reaffirmed following the confirmations, especially after his impressive victory in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham, where several of his likely Fairyhouse rivals also competed.
Other British-trained runners still in contention include Johnnywho and Hasthing for Jonjo and AJ O’Neill, Val Dancer for Mel Rowley, and Inis Oirr, representing Lucinda Russell. However, Val Dancer, Hasthing, and Inis Oirrare among those not yet assured of a run.
Cromwell’s Hope Next in Line
Gavin Cromwell’s Now Is The Hour has been trimmed into 8-1 second favourite, despite a fall at the penultimate fence in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham — the same race won by Haiti Couleurs.
He remains a key Irish hope, with strong credentials and recent form to suggest he could play a major role if completing cleanly.
Plenty of Support for Key Challengers
There’s also market support for High Class Hero and Johnnywho, who was a close second in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham — both are available at 10-1.
Several others sit just behind in the market at 12-1, including Better Days Ahead, Daily Present, Canal End, and Kinturk Kalanisi, all of whom are being closely monitored by punters in the lead-up to Monday’s contest.
Just Outside the Cut: Canal End Among Those Still Waiting
Matthew Smith’s Moonovercloon currently holds the final guaranteed spot in what is expected to be a maximum field of 30 runners.
Just behind him sits Canal End, trained by Peter Fahey, who has been well-backed in recent days but remains seven places away from a guaranteed start, having originally been 63rd on the list of entries.
As ever with the Irish Grand National, the picture remains fluid, and there could be more twists before the final declarations. Stay tuned for further updates ahead of what promises to be another thrilling renewal at Fairyhouse.
