Lord Lariat bidding for historic Irish National repeat

Last year’s winner Lord Lariat, Thedevilscoachman and Stumptown head the betting with the sponsors as 46 entries still remain for the BoyleSports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse next Monday.

A repeat success for Lord Lariat would see him become the first horse to win back-to-back renewals of the race since Brown Lad in 1975 and 1976 and it would also see Dermot McLoughlin become the first trainer in almost 50 years to win three successive Irish Grand Nationals.

The local trainer took the 2021 renewal with 150/1 shot Freewheelin Dylan while Lord Lariat scored 12 months ago at 40/1.

BoyleSports make Lord Lariat an 8/1 chance to prevail again on Monday but ahead of him in their ante-post betting is the Noel Meade-trained Thedevilscoachman at 6/1.

Stumptown is next in the betting at 9/1 but will need nine horses to come out to guarantee a run.

The six-year-old was just denied by Angels Dawn (12/1 with the sponsors BoyleSports) in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham last month and the pair are set to meet again with trainer Gavin Cromwell reporting him in good form saying: “He’s come out of the race well but you’re relying on trust really. He seems fine and were just concentrating on letting him freshen up.”

The Furze Bush Syndicate-owned gelding has progressed greatly this year highlighted by some superb jumping and the Danestown trainer explained: “He disappointed a few days on soft ground and his jumping was terrible and then he got onto a bit of nicer ground at Thurles and his jumping just transformed.

“He went from there on to Sandown on nice ground again, jumped really well and has gained confidence. The ground wasn’t particularly nice in Cheltenham but he jumped well.”

Gordon Elliott is set to be well represented and the likes of his Cheltenham runner-up Chemical Energy (12/1), The Goffer and Ash Tree Meadow might well be on his team while Willie Mullins could run Tenzing (12/1), I Am Maximus (14/1) and Dolcita.

Martin Brassil saddled Numbersixvalverde to win the BoyleSports Irish Grand National in 2005 and his Panda Boy (12/1) is another leading fancy standing his ground.

Lawrence Lyons, spokesperson for BoyleSports, said: “Lord Lariat would be the fairytale result with Dermot McLoughlin hunting down a hat-trick and he’s right in the mix as second favourite. But soft ground may just be what the doctor ordered for Thedevilscoachman and with rain forecast this weekend, he’s growing ever more popular with punters.”

The 48-hour declaration stage is on Saturday morning. Three horses will be included as reserves at that time but will only make the final 27-runner line up if there are non-runners announced before 10am on Sunday.

The Easter Monday card also includes the Grade 2 Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Hurdle for which 12 horses have been entered including Gordon Elliott’s Zanahiyr, the Tony Martin-trained Good Time Jonny, Paddy Corkery’s Master McShee with Monkfish one of four in the race for Willie Mullins.

There are also 12 entries for the Grade 2 Donohue Marquees Juvenile Hurdle with Mullins’ Blood Destiny and Gust Of Wind among them, while 11 horses are entered for the Grade 2 McInerney Properties Fairyhouse Chase including Pat Foley’s Rebel Gold, Gordon Elliott’s Andy Dufresne and Chacun Pour Soi, Easy Game and Royal Rendezvous from the Willie Mullins yard.