Irish National entries revealed

The Willie Mullins-trained dual Grade 1 winner Valseur Lido heads the weights and an entry of 90 horses for the E275,000 BoyleSports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday, March 28th.

As he bids to win the race for the first time, the champion trainer has entered 17 horses with Valseur Lido set to carry 11st 10lbs.

On His Own just lost out in a thrilling finish to the Grade 2 At The Races Bobbyjo Chase at the course in February and he has been handed 11st 3lbs.

Mullins’ strong team could also include Measureofmydreams, unbeaten in two starts over fences, who has been allotted 10st 7lbs and Roi Des Francs, the winner of his last two races, on 10st 12lbs.

The first three horses home in last year’s race are engaged once again with the winner Thunder And Roses, one of five horses entered by Sandra Hughes, on 10st 7lbs.

The Mouse Morris-trained Rule The World and Jim Dreaper’s Sizing Coal finished second and third behind the Katie Walsh-ridden winner and they have been given 10st 7lbs and 9st 9lbs respectively.

Gordon Elliott is another top trainer looking for his first win in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National and he has entered a team of 12 including Mala Beach (10st 12lbs) who was a penultimate fence faller when holding the lead in the At The Races Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse last month.

Elliott has also put his recent Thurles winner Lord Scoundrel (10st 7lbs) in the race.

Cantlow finished best of the British challengers in sixth place for Paul Webber last year but is now in the care of Enda Bolger and has been given 9st 10lbs this time.

Bolger has also entered last season’s Grade 1 Ryanair Novice Chase winner Gilgamboa who has been allotted 11st 2lbs.

My Murphy won the Thyestes Chase for trainer Liam Burke at Gowran Park in January and he is on 10st 10lbs as he bids to improve on his seventh placing last year while Colm Murphy’s Empire Of Dirt, successful in the Leopardstown Chase in January but a first fence faller in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National last year, is set to shoulder 10st 2lbs on this occasion.

Jim Dreaper is a four-time winner of the race and along with last year’s third Sizing Coal, he has entered Kayf Supreme (9st 1lb) while Venitien De Mai, winner of the Woodlands 100 Club Leinster National Handicap at Naas on Sunday for which he received a 10lbs penalty, has been allotted 9st 13lbs.

The latest renewal of Ireland’s richest handicap chase has attracted a strong British entry with 11 horses put in the race by eight different trainers.

Jonjo O’Neill is responsible for three entries headed by Beg To Differ on 10st 4lbs as he bids to win the race for the third time having saddled Butlers Cabin to win for Tony McCoy in 2007 and Shutthefrontdoor to score under Barry Geraghty two years ago.

Martin Pipe sent over Omerta to win under the then amateur rider Adrian Maguire in 1991 and his son, David, has entered Broadway Buffalo (10st 2lbs).

High-flying Kerry Lee has entered Russe Blanc (9st 13lbs) while Paul Nicholls could be represented by his recent novice chase winner, Vivaldi Collonges (10st 4lbs).

Peter Roe, General Manager of Fairyhouse Racecourse, said, "We are delighted with the strength and depth of the entries for the BoyleSports Irish Grand National. There is a huge entry of 90 horses for the race and it is very encouraging that 11 of them have come from Britain and I’m hopeful that this year’s renewal will produce another fairytale result."

Leon Blanche of BoyleSports, said, "BoyleSports, as Ireland’s largest independent bookmaker, are very proud and privileged to sponsor the BoyleSports Irish Grand National for the third consecutive year. It’s the most prestigious race on the National Hunt calendar, and with trainer Willie Mullins yet to be successful, it truly does give everybody a chance as we saw when Dott Love trained the winner a couple of years back. We would like to wish all those involved the very best of luck."

BoyleSports bet: Roi Des Francs 10/1, Mala Beach 10/1, Cause Of Causes 10/1, Morning Assembly 10/1, Noble Endeavor 10/1, Heathfield 14/1, Venitien De Mai 14/1, Dedigout 14/1, Upswing 14/1, Sub Lieutenant 14/1, The Job Is Right 14/1, Empire Of Dirt 14/1, Rule The World 14/1, Avant Tout 14/1, My Murphy 16/1, Pont Alexandre 16/1, Pleasant Company 16/1, Bonny Kate 16/1, Gallant Oscar 16/1, Measureofmydreams 16/1, Cantlow 16/1, Killer Crow 16/1, Vedettariat 16/1, Si C'etait Vrai 20/1, Dromnea 20/1, Folsom Blue 20/1, Pass The Hat 20/1, Marinero 20/1, Baie Des Iles 20/1, Another Hero 20/1, Sambremont 20/1, Mckinley 20/1, Beg To Differ 20/1, Spring Heeled 20/1, Thunder And Roses 20/1, Pendra 20/1, Home Farm 20/1, Ballycasey 20/1, Turban 20/1, Caroles Destrier 20/1, Sir Des Champs 20/1, Shaneshill 20/1, Blood Cotil 20/1, Gilgamboa 20/1, Futuramic 20/1, First Lieutenant 20/1, Foxrock 20/1, Valseur Lido 25/1, On His Own 25/1, Roi Du Mee 25/1, Double Seven 25/1, Living Next Door 25/1, Lord Scoundrel 25/1, Lyreen Legend 25/1, Shantou Flyer 25/1, Vivaldi Collonges 25/1, Broadway Buffalo 25/1, Golden Wonder 25/1, Urano 25/1, Rossvoss 25/1, Ballyadam Approach 25/1, Nickname Exit 25/1, No Secrets 25/1, White Arm 25/1, Texas Jack 33/1, Tennis Cap 33/1, Rogue Angel 33/1, Russe Blanc 33/1, Bless The Wings 33/1, Captain Von Trappe 33/1, Horendus Hulabaloo 33/1, Raz De Maree 33/1, Rivage D'or 33/1, Run Ructions Run 33/1, Sizing Coal 33/1, Unic De Bersy 33/1, Jarob 33/1, Portrait King 33/1, Embracing Change 33/1, Bearly Legal 33/1, Wrath Of Titans 33/1, Heaney 33/1, Kayf Supreme 33/1, Topper Thornton 33/1, Tulsa Jack 33/1, Amidon 33/1, Definite Ruby 33/1, Kilford 33/1, Riverside City 33/1, Thekingofconnemara 50/1