Strong local contingent in entries for this year’s Irish Grand National

The entries for this year’s Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday, April 1 have been revealed and Gordon Elliott holds a strong hand with 19 possible runners.

Elliott’s 19 entries include last year’s runner-up Gevrey, Galway Plate winner Ash Tree Meadow, Favori De Champdou, Minella Crooner, Salvador Ziggy, Three Card Brag and Where It All Began.

On the back of two very taking Fairyhouse successes, the exciting Intense Raffles has been entered by Tom Gibney who struck with Lion Na Bearnai in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National in 2012. Velvet Elvis is another two-time Fairyhouse winner in the race and he’s one of six hopes for trainer Gavin Cromwell who has also entered Inothewayurthinkin and recent winners Hartur D’arc and Limerick Lace. Back-to-back BoyleSports Irish Grand National winner Dermot McLoughlin has Digby among the entries.

The weights for this year’s renewal will be released on Tuesday, March 19 at 11am to allow the Irish handicapper to take into account all the performances from next week’s Cheltenham festival, which could see horses both rise and fall in the weights based on their performances.

“We are delighted with the quality, depth and range of entries for this year’s BoyleSports Irish Grand National. It is great to see some of the Fairyhouse favourites from this year, Where’s Frankie and Intense Raffles representing local trainers Karl Thornton and Tom Gibney among the 64 entries. We are busy preparing for this year’s renewal on April 1”, said Peter Roe, General Manger of Fairyhouse Racecourse.