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Irish Grand National Runners 2025 – Curtis’ Couleurs Heads Full Line-Up as Brits Attempt to Snare Ireland’s Marathon Prize

A full field of 30 runners have been declared for the 2025 Irish Grand National. Held at Fairyhouse, the showpiece staying contest of the season in Ireland sits in its traditional Easter Monday slot on the 21st April.

Despite their dominance of the training ranks, it is the Rebecca Curtis-trained Haiti Couleurs who is favourite. Based in Wales, Curtis’ charge won the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in good style and would run off a mark just 6lb higher at Fairyhouse.

A faller in that contest was the lightly-raced Now Is The Hour. Still in contention when coming down at the second last, he is handled by Gavin Cromwell, who otherwise had such a successful Festival, and the eight-year-old could easily still be improving even though he is up a further 2lb in the handicap.

With his focus on the British Trainers’ title, Willie Mullins’ team is unusually light by his standards, though he still sends two hopefuls in novices Quai De Bourbon and Sa Majeste.

Although defending champion Intense Raffles is not in the race, his trainer Thomas Gibney could still run Kinturk Kalanisi, who is another to have made a promising beginning to his chase career. Meanwhile, further British interest may be inspired by Johnnywho, who was second in the Kim Muir having travelled so well at Cheltenham for the O’Neill team. HIs conqueror, Daily Present, is also confirmed here.

Top-weight is currently the Grade 2-winning novice Better Days Ahead for Gordon Elliott, while last in at number 30 is another Cromwell runner in Noble Birth. Among the three reserves is the JP McManus runner Canal End, though his Hasthing has made the line-up as another runner for the O’Neills. McManus could also still own an emotional winner, with the 13-year-old Any Second Now, a former runner-up of both this race and the Aintree Grand National, guaranteed a run.

2025 Irish Grand National Runners

NumberHorseTrainer
1Better Days AheadGordon Elliott
2Quai De BourbonWillie Mullins
3JohnnywhoJonjo & A J O’Neill
4BioluminsecenceGavin Cromwell
5Harry Des OngraisHenry De Bromead
6Duffle CoatGordon Elliott
7Favori De ChampdouGordon Elliott
8Search For GloryGordon Elliott
9SequesteredPaul John Gilligan
10Desertmore HouseMartin Brassil
11Malina GirlGavin Cromwell
12Panda BoyMartin Brassil
13Yeah ManGavin Cromwell
14Haiti CouleursRebecca Curtis
15Now Is The HourGavin Cromwell
16ShecouldbeanythingGordon Elliott
17Sa MajesteWillie Mullins
18Any Second NowTed Walsh
19Lord LariatDermot McLoughlin
20StuzzikiniGordon Elliott
21TullybegGordon Elliott
22Daily PresentPaul Nolan
23Mint BoyGavin Cromwell
24DunboyneIan Patrick Donoghue
25Final OrdersGavin Cromwell
26Kinturk KalanisiThomas Gibney
27Bushmans PassOliver McKiernan
28MoonovercloonMatthew Smith
29HasthingJonjo & A J O’Neill
30Noble BirthGavin Cromwell
R31Another ChoiceMatthew Smith
R32Will DoGordon Elliott
R33Canal EndPeter Fahey