We had a bumper field of 30 runners for the 2025 Irish Grand National, with two British challengers making the trip to Fairyhouse. Hot on the heels of wins in the English and Scottish versions of the race, Willie Mullins sent two to post in the shape of Sa Majeste and Quai De Bourbon. With Paul Townend opting to ride the latter, the Gigginstown House Stud challenger was backed into favouritism on the day.
Fellow Irish juggernaut Gordon Elliott led the way in numbers, with seven of the final field hailing from his County Meath base. National Hunt Challenge Cup third Will Do was the shortest price of the Elliott squadron, closely followed by topweight Better Days Ahead.
Others to note in a typically competitive field included 2024 runner-up Any Second Now, 2022 champ Lord Lariat, and 2025 National Hunt Chase winner Haiti Couleurs, who represented the Rebecca Curtis operation.
Result
- 1st – Haiti Couleurs 13/2, Jockey: Sean Bowen, Trainer: Rebecca Curtis
- 2nd – Any Second Now 17/2, Jockey: Mark Walsh, Trainer: Ted Walsh
- 3rd – Quai De Bourbon 11/2F, Jockey: Paul Townend, Trainer: Willie Mullins
- 4th – Dunboyne 22/1, Jockey: Donagh Meyler, Trainer: Ian Patrick Donoghue
Prize Money Breakdown
- 1st – €270,000
- 2nd – €95,000
- 3rd – €45,000
- 4th – €20,000
- 5th – €10,000
- 6th – €5,000
- 7th – €2,500
- 8th – €2,500
Tote and Forecast Payouts
- Tote Win – €9
- Tote Places – 1st – €3.10, 2nd – €3.10, 3rd – €2.60
- Exacta – €119.80
- Computer Straight Forecast (CSF) – €62.64
- Trifecta – €355.96
- Tricast – €1,674.30
Recap
With the ground riding soft to heavy on the day, the arduous conditions took a toll on the field. Thirty runners set out in search of glory, but only 15 completed the course.
The 2022 shock winner Lord Lariat was fastest into his stride to lead the field over the first fence. Bushmans Pass quickly joined him, as did Haiti Couleurs under British Champion Jockey-in-waiting Sean Bowen. Any Second Now and Better Days Ahead gained prominent early positions.
A dozen lengths separated first from last as the runners turned into the back straight. Bushmans Pass and Haiti Couleurs had won the battle to make the running. The well-fancied Kinturk Kalanisi and market leader Quai De Bourbon made early errors but were soon back in their stride. Any Second Now continued to race prominently, with Duboyne making an early move to gain ground from the rear.
Passing the winning post for the first time, Haiti Couleurs had found an excellent jumping rhythm and moved into a narrow lead. Any Second Now appeared to travel nicely against the inside rail, but most of the field appeared comfortable at this stage.
Moving into the back straight for a final time, Haiti Couleurs began to increase the tempo. That pressure soon began to tell, with Panda Boy, Now Is The Hour, Duffle Coat and others calling it a day.
Haiti Couleurs continued to pour it on around the home bend. Bushmans Pass cracked, but threats emerged in the shape of Dunboyne, Any Second Now, and Quai De Bourbon, who launched their challenges in the straight. However, the pacesetter was in no mood to relinquish his lead. Clear over the last, Haiti Couleurs stayed on to score by just over three lengths from the gallant 13-year-old Any Second Now, who filled the runners-up position for the second year in a row. Quai De Bourbon was six and a half lengths back in third, followed by Dunboyne in fourth.
A first win in the race for Rebecca Curtis, who picked up the most valuable success of her career to date. Sean Bowen also broke his Irish Grand National duck to cap a fine championship-winning season.
Runners
- 1. Better Days Ahead – SP: 16/1, Trainer: Gordon Elliott, Jockey: Mr R James
- 2. Quai De Bourbon – SP: 11/2F, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Paul Townend
- 3. Jonnywho – SP: 9/1, Trainer: Jonjo & A J O’Neill, Jockey: Mr Derek O’Connor
- 4. Bioluminescence – SP: 9/1, Trainer: Gavin Cromwell, Jockey: Keith Donoghue
- 5. Harry Des Ongrais – SP: 18/1, Trainer: Henry De Bromhead, Jockey: Rachael Blackmore
- 6. Duffle Coat – SP: 50/1, Trainer: Gordon Elliott, Jockey: Alex Harvey
- 7. Favori De Champdou – SP: 40/1, Trainer: Gordon Eliott, Jockey: Danny Gilligan
- 8. Search For Glory – SP: 28/1, Trainer: Gordon Elliott, Jockey: Sam Ewing
- 9. Sequestered – SP: 50/1, Trainer: Paul John Gilligan, Jockey: Jack G Gilligan
- 10. Desertmore House – SP: 80/1, Trainer: Martin Brassil, Jockey: J J Slevin
- 11. Malina Girl – SP: 33/1, Trainer: Gavin Cromwell, Jockey: Sean Flanagan
- 12. Panda Boy – SP: 28/1, Trainer: Martin Brassil, Jockey: Ricky Doyle
- 13. Yeah Man – SP: 50/1, Trainer: Gavin Cromwell, Jockey: Kieren Buckley
- 14. Haiti Couleurs – SP: 13/2, Trainer: Rebecca Curtis, Jockey: Sean Bowen
- 15. Now Is The Hour – SP: 10/1, Trainer: Gavin Cromwell, Jockey: Conor Stone-Walsh
- 16. Shecouldbeanything – SP: 33/1, Trainer: Gordon Elliott, Jockey: Jordan Gainford
- 17. Sa Majeste – SP: 16/1, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Simon Torrens
- 18. Any Second Now – SP: 17/2, Trainer: Ted Walsh, Jockey: Mark Walsh
- 19. Lord Lariat – SP: 66/1, Trainer: Dermot A McLoughlin, Jockey: P J O’Hanlon
- 20. Stuzzikini – SP: 66/1, Trainer: Gordon Elliott, Jockey: Gavin Brouder
- 21. Tullybeg – Non-runner
- 22. Daily Present – SP: 25/1, Trainer: Paul Nolan, Jockey: Aidan Kelly
- 23. Mint Boy – SP: 33/1, Trainer: Gavin Cromwell, Jockey: Kevin Sexton
- 24. Dunboyne – SP: 22/1, Trainer: Ian Patrick Donoghue, Jockey: Donagh Meyler
- 25. Final Orders – SP: 40/1, Trainer: Gavin Cromwell, Jockey: Patrick M O’Brien
- 26. Kinturk Kalanisi – SP: 7/1, Trainer: Thomas Gibney, Jockey: Darragh O’Keeffe
- 27. Bushmans Pass – SP: 33/1, Trainer: Oliver McKiernan, Jockey: Phillip Enright
- 28. Moonovercloon – SP: 100/1, Trainer: Matthew J Smith, Jockey: Ben Harvey
- 29. Hashting – Non-runner
- 30. Noble Birth – SP: 28/1, Trainer: Gavin Cromwell, Jockey: Daniel King
- 31. Another Choice – SP: 50/1, Trainer: Matthew J Smith, Jockey: Sean O’Keeffe
- 31. Will Do – SP: 14/1, Trainer: Gordon Elliott, Jockey: Harry Sexton
Non-Runners
Hashting (unsuitable ground), Tullybeg (unsuitable ground)