Irish Grand National 2023 Preview: What to expect from the Irish horse racing event

Since the inaugural Irish Grand National in 1870, which a horse named Sir Robert Peel won, the steeplechase has grown tremendously. This first race was held at Fairyhouse racecourse (this course remains the venue for the event), and Sir Robert Peel received a reward of 167 sovereigns. The Irish Grand National takes place annually on Easter Monday, and this date earned the name "Dubs' Day Out" because of the many Dubliners who attend the event.

Similar to its previous editions, the 2023 Irish Grand National Race is scheduled for Easter Monday. In 2022, Lord Lariat gave local trainer Dermot McLoughlin his second Irish Grand National victory at Fairyhouse. Frontal Assault came in second, while Gaillard Du Mesnil made a terrific start and continued to run strongly throughout the race but came in third.

Lord Lariat returns in the 2023 chase, and there are also some new entrees that pose as competition for last year's champion. If you're a horse racing fan or bettor anticipating this event, we have covered everything you should know and included predictions for the horse that will win the race.

Horse racing fans anticipate the event features

On Easter Monday, which is the 10th of April, horse racing lovers will gather at the Fairyhouse to witness the thrilling event that will kick off at 5 p.m. Unlike the 2023 Grand National, which features 40 horses, 64 horses have been entered for the Irish race. This list will be whittled down until there are only 30 participants.

One of the entries for the race is Gaillard de Mesnil, a horse that Willie Mullins trains. Willie has only triumphed in this event once, which was in 2019 with Burrows Saint, ridden by the jockey Ruby Walsh. However, the trainer believes that Gaillard de Mesnil can bring him a second victory. Gaillard de Mesnil just won the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham, and he is also set to take part in the Aintree Grand National.

Ain't That A Shame is another horse that was entered into the tournament and is currently a favourite at bookmakers. The 9-year-old bay gelding is trained by Henry de Bromhead. He last ran on the 11th of March at Gowran Park in the Holden Feet Management Beginners Chase, where he emerged the winner. After the Irish Grand National, he is also headed for the Aintree Grand National.

Mr Incredible, Tenzing, Ramillies, Gerri Colombe, Delta Work, Run Wild Fred, and Frontal Assault are also considered favourites. If you want to punt on this event, you'll find excellent odds at the best NonGamstopSites that feature British horse racing and other major events. Some platforms also offer live streaming, so you can watch the race as it unfolds even if you're not present at the venue.

What are the preparations for the upcoming event?

The Grand National is one of the biggest events in the British calendar, and the Irish version is just as popular. Hence, a lot of work goes into training horses, selecting the proper jockeys, and preparing the course. We have explained each stage of preparation below.

Training of Horses

An interesting fact that all fans and especially bettors should know is that the average winning horses are about 7-8 years old. The month of February is when the weights are published, and the trainer will know precisely where they stand with their horse and may decide whether or not they are good enough to carry their assigned weight in a maximum field of 30 runners. There are 24 barriers to jump in the race; therefore, a horse that has performed well in hurdle races has a better chance of securing a higher position at the tournament. As a result, trainers put in a lot of effort into fine-tuning their horses' jumping skills. These racehorses are also trained to take instructions from their jockeys, as both must be compatible for a good chance at winning the race.

Jockey Selection

Just as horses qualify for the Grand National, jockeys must meet certain requirements before they are considered by a trainer for the Irish event. The jockey must have ridden at least 15 winners, ten of which must have been in steeplechases. Trained jockeys who have been riding the same horses on the same or similar racecourses will have a better chance of winning. These riders have developed a relationship with the horses, and both work better as a team than horses and jockeys performing together in the Grand National for the first time. Pat Taaffe, Paul Townend, and Davy Russell are some of these experienced jockeys that you should keep an eye on.

Course Preparation

This prestigious event takes place at the Fairyhouse racecourse, and the horses cover three miles and five furlongs. The racecourse itself is about one mile and six furlongs long and has some undulations that will test the horses' abilities to sustain speed. Before the Irish Grand National and any other event to be held on the course, a routine survey and cleaning session take place. During this survey, every hurdle is checked to ensure it is firmly in place.

Predictions would be challenging ahead of the victorious horse.

With 24 hurdles to scale, the Grand National in Ireland is one of the most competitive horse races. For this reason, it draws the attention of horse racing lovers and bettors alike. Besides the other entertaining highlight of the event, fans are curious to see which horse will carve its name into the history of the Irish Grand National.

That said, top online bookmakers have published odds for these races. The odds vary from one bookmaker to another, but Gaillard Du Mesnil, Mr Incredible, and Ain't' That A Shame sits at the top in most bookies. However, there are a few things to note about the race.

Over the years, patterns and trends have been observed among winners. These winning horses are typically between 7 and 9 years old. Thirteen of the last fifteen victorious horses had weights of 10-08 or less, except Our Duke (11-04) in 2017 and Shutthefrontdoor (14-3) in 2014. According to statistics, horses with strong forms and at least five but no more than ten runs under their belts this season have a greater chance of winning.

Besides the three top favourites, other horses that meet all criteria include Stumptown, Ash Tree Meadow, Angel's Dawn, and Gold Cup Bailly. However, all things considered, Gaillard Du Mesnil still has the best chance of winning. The horse, which boasts outstanding form, came in third at last year's race and won the Cheltenham National Hunt Chase in March 2023.