Irish horses to follow for Cheltenham after the weekend: Triumph Hurdle potential for Kenny Alexander

Irish racing over the weekend came from Fairyhouse and Naas, including a key Grand National Trial at the former venue on Saturday where Grangeclare West came out on top for Paul Townend and Willie Mullins.

The top trainer and jockey duo also scored with a newcomer of note on Sunday's card at Naas and the promising young filly could have Cheltenham ambitions next month.

Here's our look at some Irish horses that stood out across the weekend and could be worth following with a view to Cheltenham and beyond.

Majolique: Triumph Hurdle potential for Kenny Alexander

French import Majolique made a perfect start for owner Kenny Alexander in the Honeysuckle colours at Naas on Sunday, winning a strange renewal of the Listed Download The William Hill App Juvenile Hurdle under Paul Townend.

None of the five riders appeared keen to make the running and, so, the field went at walking pace until they got within reach of the first hurdle.

Majolique had a tendency to jump to her left, notably at the second last where she collided with a wing, but she picked up and went through a gap on the rail to take over from Michonne inside the final 100 yards and won by four lengths in the end.

She holds a Triumph Hurdle entry and it can be noted that Townend suggested pre-race the once-raced Auteuil Flat winner had done very little work at home.

A major jolt of improvement can be anticipated from the 4YO filly when we see her next and she's a 25/1 to win the Triumph Hurdle — a contest Mullins' ante-post favourite Narciso Has was ruled out of on Friday after a setback at home.

Grangeclare West: Following the Aintree blueprint

Mullins extended his record tally of wins in the Bobbyjo Chase to 15 as Grangeclare West powered home to overhaul Gerri Colombe late on at Fairyhouse.

It was a fourth successive win in the race for Mullins and his 10th in the last 11 years. The two previous winners of the race went on to win the Grand National at Aintree on their next starts, I Am Maximus (2024) and Nick Rockett (2025).

Grangeclare West was third in the Aintree marathon last season and is set to carry 11st 10lb this time around — up 2lb from last year.

The Cheveley Park Stud inmate also holds an entry in the Cheltenham Gold Cup before then. He's rated a 33/1 chance for the Blue Riband and trades around 12/1 for Aintree on April 11.

Blow Wind Blow: One for the tracker

The name of Enda Bolger has stopped appearing with the same regularity as in days gone by but the Limerick-based handler remains capable and is typically still associated with top owner JP McManus.

They combined on Saturday to win the Easter Festival 4th - 6th April Handicap Hurdle at Fairyhouse with Blow Wind Blow.

The five-year-old gelded son of Gleneagles had easily won a Thurles maiden over hurdles (2m6½f, heavy) in January and he made light of an opening handicap mark of 110 under Mark Walsh in the 2m4f Fairyhouse event, winning with more in hand than the 1¾-lengths margin suggested.

He was very easy to back on the day, going off at odds of 12/1 after having traded as short as 6s, but there was no doubting his superiority.

Bolger admits he "can't wait for him to go over fences next season" but there could still be some mileage in what remains on this campaign over timber, as the assessor hasn't got a lot of wriggle room given he beat an 87-rated rival by less than two lengths.

The big-framed Blow Wind Blow is one to place in the tracker.