THREE Cheltenham Festival winners are among the entries for the 2022 BoyleSports Irish Grand National, to be run at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday, April 18th.

The weights for the famous handicap chase were unveiled this week at Dermot McLoughlin’s Co Meath yard, where the 2021 Irish National winner Freewheelin Dylan is housed.

Last week’s Cheltenham winner Stattler is the early 9/1 favourite with BoyleSports. His trainer Willie Mullins has made 16 entries this time, including the 2019 winner Burrows Saint.

The novices Gaillard Du Mesnil and Capodanno are early 14/1 chances with Franco De Port next best of the champion trainer’s entries at 20/1.

Gordon Elliott’s 24 entries include his Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase winner Delta Work while Cheltenham Gold Cup fourth Galvin is top weight at the moment.

The stable’s Farouk D’Alene, hot on the heels of the leaders when falling at the second last fence in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, is an early 12/1 joint second favourite in the betting.

Elliott’s Farclas is one of five horses on the 14/1 mark while last year’s BoyleSports Irish Grand National runner-up and last week’s Cheltenham runner-up Run Wild Fred is among those on offer at odds of 16/1. Previous Fairyhouse winner Mount Ida is another early 16/1 chance.

The Peter Casey-trained Max Flamingo was a handicap hurdle winner on the Irish Grand National card a year ago and he has the main event as a target this time following his success at Thurles on Saturday. He is the other 12/1 joint second favourite.

Noel Meade looks to have a strong hand with six entries headed by 14/1 chance School Boy Hours, a big handicap chase winner at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival but pulled-up when market leader for the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys´ Handicap Chase at last week’s Cheltenham Festival.

Lucinda Russell’s Corach Rambler is a 14/1 chance to add the Irish National to last week’s Ultima Handicap Chase win under Co Sligo’s Derek Fox and he heads a British entry of six.

Threeunderthrufive, trained by Paul Nicholls, the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Time To Get Up and the Harry Fry-trained Phoenix Way are other notable overseas entries.

The Charlie Longsdon-trained Snow Leopardess is a 25/1 chance, the same price as Ask Me Early, a second entry for last week’s Cheltenham Festival winner Fry.

Henry de Bromhead has entered five horses and among the quintet are last year’s Aintree Grand National hero Minella Times and the two-time Fairyhouse winner Court Maid which is a new recruit for the yard since chasing home subsequent Cheltenham Festival winner Elimay at Naas last month. She is another 20/1 chance.

Velvet Elvis (33/1) could represent Tom Gibney who won the race 10 years ago with Lion Na Bearnai while Gavin Cromwell’s Vanillier (16/1) looks another lively Co Meath-trained contender.

Andrew Shaw, the IHRB’s senior National Hunt handicapper, said: “This year’s entry is one of the strongest in recent times, with 15 Grade 1 winners amongst the 93 entries. There is huge strength in depth to the race with the top 25 horses rated 150 or higher. Much of the credit must go to BoyleSports whose increased sponsorship has raised the profile of the race to a much higher level.”

Previous winners

Leon Blanche of BoyleSports said: “You only have to look back at the list of previous winners, which includes greats like Arkle and Desert Orchid, to get a flavour of just how iconic the BoyleSports Irish Grand National is. We are very proud and privileged to sponsor this landmark occasion of the 150th running of the race and with a €500,000 prize pot on offer, the most lucrative on the Irish National Hunt calendar, we are relishing another thrilling renewal at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday.”

Fairyhouse general manager Peter Roe commented: “It will mean so much to the team here to be able to welcome an Irish Grand National crowd back to the racecourse for the first time since 2019.”

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