Irish Grand National Runners 2023: Check out the entries for the Fairyhouse feature
A hugely competitive field of staying handicap chasers will line up for the 2023 Boylesports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse Easter Monday and we take a look at the latest entry stage and look at the Irish Grand National Runners for the big event. Check out all the latest entries and odds here for the April 10th feature...
Dermot McLoughlin will bid for a third Irish Grand National win on the bounce on Monday and he will unleash last year's winner Lord Lariat in the 2023 renewal, who is a prominent figure in the betting. Having saddled Freewheelin Dylan to victory in the 2021 renewal, McLoughlin retained the crown 12 months later with huge outsider Lord Lariat and that raider will look to become the first horse since Brown Lad in 1976 to retain the crown.
A faller in the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase earlier in the season, Thedevilscoachman has since gone on to win a brace of Grade 3 events over fences and will now look to land this prize for Noel Meade, who last trained the winner in 2002 when The Bunny Boiler landed the prize. Prominent in the betting, Thedevilscoachman is still open to significant improvement and is certainly a notable unknown quantity lining up in this event for owner JP McManus.
Just touched off by Gaillard Du Mesnil in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last month, Chemical Energy is looking to go one better here and with news Gaillard Du Mesnil is set to head to Aintree for the Grand National on April 15 then Gordon Elliott's charge will face an easier test in the Irish equivalent. A real classy staying novice chaser this season, Chemical Energy had a tough race that day at Cheltenham, but if he can improve on that effort then he has to be a notable contender for the Cullentra House team.
Willie Mullins may not saddle last year's third Gaillard Du Mesnil, but Tenzing could line up for the Closutton handler and that raider was last seen finishing fourth in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham, while I Am Maximus and Dolcita could be another brace of runners unleashed by the Mullins team.
Angels Dawn and Stumptown fought out a tremendous finish in the Kim Muir Handicap Chase at Cheltenham last month and that pair are both entered for the Irish Grand National and both will be leading contenders, if they take their chance in what should be an absolutely stonking puzzle for punters heading to Fairyhouse on Easter Monday.
A runaway seven-and-a-half length winner of the Leinster National on his last start, Barry Connell's Espanito Bello will be looking to grab another notable success in staying handicap chases and that contender is entered for this event, while the Venetia Williams-trained Royale Pagaille could make the journey over from the UK and is a fascinating runner. The nine-year-old was last seen finishing sixth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, so a drop back to handicap company here is eye-catching, but he will have a heavy weight to carry in this hugely competitive event.
Others that catch the eye include the likes of The Goffer, Now Where Or When and Busselton, who all have some smart form on their record and, if taking their chance, add significant depth to the contest.
