Big Race History: The Irish Grand National

005 Irish Racing / Malcolm Pannett / 08 April 2009 / Leave a Comment

Any race that boasts Arkle, Flyingbolt and Desert Orchid among its previous winners must be a pretty good race. The Irish Grand National is all that and in recent times has become an excellent pointer to future Grand National winners to boot, writes Malcolm Pannett.

Staged at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday the three-mile five-furlong handicap was first run 1870 when it was won by Sir Robert Peel. Two years later Scots Grey took the prize for the first time and then won again in 1875 to become the first dual winner. Subsequently The Gift (1883 and 1884), Little Hack (1909 and 1913), and Halston (1920 and 1922) have replicated that feat.

In the mid-1970s Brown Lad trained by Jim Dreaper, who also sent out 1974-winner Colebridge, came to the fore. After winning as a novice in 1975 and following up the next year he then missed 19 months due to a combination of tendon and muscle problems.

Brown Lad returned in 1978 and carrying 12st 2lb won for a record third time after an epic tussle with Sand Pit who was receiving 30lb. There was three quarters of a length between them at the line with a further 15 back to third-placed Frantouri. Shortly afterwards Brown Lad finished a creditable second to Midnight Court in the rescheduled Cheltenham Gold Cup, he'd already filled the same position behind Royal Frolic two years before. So Jim Dreaper's record moved onto four wins in five runnings - not even half as good as his father.

Tom Dreaper dominated proceedings a decade earlier training 10 winners in all including a run of seven-in-a-row between 1960 and 1966. The best of them were Arkle (1964) and Flyingbolt (1966), the two highest rated jump horses of all time, and Fortria (1961) who prior to his victory won two Champion Chases and afterwards was second to Mandarin and then Mill House in successive Cheltenham Gold Cups.

Ascetic's Silver (1904) was the first Irish Grand National victor to win the race that inspired its inception when going on to take the Grand National in 1906. Since then Rhyme 'N' Reason (1985), Bobbyjo (1999) and Numbersixvalverde (2005) have all gone on to win the Aintree showpiece after their Fairyhouse successes.

Other notable winners include Prince Regent (1942), who was a gallant third to Lovely Cottage in the 1946 Grand National under the welter burden of 12st 5lb; Tied Cottage (1979) who had fallen at the last when upsides Alverton in that season's Cheltenham Gold Cup and who would be disqualified on a technicality the next year after a clear victory over Master Smudge; Desert Orchid (1990) who under 12st added to his Cheltenham Gold Cup victory the previous year despite smashing through the last fence; and Flashing Steel (1995) who was owned by the former Taoiseach Charles Haughey.

The race wasn't run in 1919 or 1941 due to the World Wars.

25 years ago: The first win for a lady jockey as Mrs Ann Ferris partnered Bentom Boy to victory while her sister, Mrs Stewart, was third on Dawson Prince both trained by their father Willie Rooney. Bentom Boy would probably have won anyway however the exit of Lantern Lodge, Gala Song and Doubtful Venture at the second last made the task easier. Sicilian Answer finished 12 lengths back in second.

10 years ago: Trainer Michael O'Brien landed his third victory in the race when Glebe Lad, Tom Rudd up, overcame an interrupted preparation to just get the better of Feathered Leader after a protracted duel. Making smooth progress on the inner to lead three fences from home Glebe Lad was joined, and then momentarily passed, by Feathered Leader at the last before staying on resolutely to win by three lengths at 8-1 co-favourite. Manus The Man, another co-favourite, was third while the other horse at the top of the market, Papillon finished lame but recovered to win the next season's Grand National. O'Brien's previous winners were King Spruce (1982) and Vanton (1992).

Five years ago: A win for the British-trained Granit D'Estruval who at 33-1 just held off the late charge of 20-1shot Marcus Du Berlais. Jockey Brian Harding enterprisingly kicked on five fences from home and Ferdy Murphy's charge just had enough petrol in the tank to hold on by half a length. Lightweights and long prices dominated with Golden Storm taking third at 25-1.

Last Year: An easy success, despite the long price, for Hear The Echo. Sent off at 33-1 the seven-year-old, who had won a Grade 2 novice chase the previous year, forged to the lead four out and stayed every yard of the trip to win by 12 lengths from Royal County Star and Notre Pere. Sadly, Hear The Echo literally ran his heart out in this year's Grand National.