The Irish have always been associated with the Grand National, due to two Irish fox-hunting gentlemen Edmund Bake and Cornelius O'Callaghan having given birth to the word 'steeplechase' back in 1752.

It only seems appropriate given the races origins that the Irish have the greatest overseas impact at the Aintree Grand National, which is run over roughly the same distance as the original country chase from St John's Church Buttevant to St Marys Church at Doneraile, County Cork.

Irish jockeys and Irish-bred horses have always enjoyed considerable success at Aintree, and there have been 25 winners of the race trained in Ireland since the first Grand National back in 1839.

The first was Coolreagh-bred Matthew who won the race in 1847, the 10-1 joint favourite. The next was Abd-El-Kader who became the first dual winner of the Grand National in 1850 and 1851. A long wait and 24 years later The Liberator triumphed, having finished third behind Austerlitz two years earlier. The Liberator had been trained by Garett Moore and returned the following year, 1880, to be runner up behind Irish trained Empress.

Trainer Henry Linde and jockey Tommy Beasley came back in force in 1881, winning again with Woodbrook, who revelled in the boggy conditions.

Beasley triumphed again in 1889 on the 11 year old mare Frigate, trained in County Wexford, while his brother Harry rode Come Away to victory in 1891. Come Away won following an objection that he had squeezed Cloister for room in the closing stages.

Algy Anthony rode and trained Ambush II who beat dual winner Manifesto in 1900, and though he was bred and trained in Ireland, being owned by Edward Prince of Wales, he became the first horse to carry the royal colours to victory in the Grand National.

In 1920, the giant (17 hands) Troytown made his first and last appearance at the National wining by a comfortable 12 lengths, and 19 years later Workman, the first Irish-bred and trained winner of the Grand National since Troytown ,ridden by former champion show jumper Tim Hyde, won in 1939, beating Macmoffat by 3 lengths.

Caughoo won in 1947 despite his 100/1 odds, beating 56 other horses and the fog. Between 1953 and 1955, the Grand National belonged to trainer Vincent O'Brien 'the Master of Ballydoyle' who won with Early Mist in 1953, Royal Tan in 1954 and Quare Times in 1955. If this wasn't enough O'Brien also won the Epsom Derby six times.

Mr What, having previously raced only in Ireland took a shine to the National fences, beating Tiberetta by 30 lengths in 1958. L'Escargot became the second ever horse to win both the National and the Cheltenham Gold, but unfortunately didn't do it in the same season as Golden Miller had.

He finished third, second and finally first in the Grand Nationals of 1973, 1974 and 1975 respectively, winning by 15 lengths. Trained by Dan Moore of the Fairyhouse yard he beat Red Rum who had won the previous two seasons and went on to win again in 1977.

Jockey of L'Escargot Tommy Carberry trained 1999 Irish and English National winner Bobbyjo, who was ridden by Tommy's son Paul. The father-son combo quickly caught on and in 2000 Papillon won, with Ted Walsh training and son Ruby riding his first National.

2003 saw Monty's Pass be victorious by 12 lengths, while Ruby Walsh secured his second National victory on Hedgehunter in 2005. Hedgehunter was a runner up in 2006 behind Irish-trained Numbersixvalverde, Martin Brassil's first runner in the National.

The Irish were successful again in 2007 with Silver Birch who beat McKelvey by three quarters of a length, and again in 2008 with Comply Or Die, proving that the Irish really do have what it takes in the great race!

For all of the best information on everything to do with the Aintree Grand National, past and present, then visit our website. With everything from the

Rate this Article:

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s)

Print Email Re-Publish

About the Author:

For all of the best information on everything to do with the Aintree Grand National, past and present, then visit our website. With everything from the ante post odds on the 2010 race going right back to 1800s, we have it all, the past winners, jockeys, trainers and race results as well as all the tips and info you need for choosing a horse to back in April 2010.