Local runners favoured in Irish Grand National

If you believe in following trends, then the 2009 winner of the Irish Grand National is likely to keep the prize on home soil.

The only British winners of the Irish Grand National in the last 18 years were Butler's Cabin (2007) Granit d'Estruval (2004) and Mudahim (1997) – the first two named were trained by England-based Irishmen Jonjo O'Neill and Ferdy Murphy.

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Soft ground ability a 'must' for Irish Grand National horses

The Irish Grand National 2009 takes place on Monday April 13th and will be run as usual at Fairyhouse, where the gruelling 3 miles 5 furlongs trip sets a stern test for all Irish Grand National horses. Invariably the going at Fairyhouse is very testing and Irish Grand National betting odds are likely to reflect this fact, favouring those Irish Grand National runners with proven ability to handle plenty of cut in the ground. Only once in the last 10 years (Commanche Court, 2000) has the Irish Grand National winner carried more than 11 stone, and Irish Grand National betting odds should lean towards those at the lower end of the scale being favoured amongst Irish Grand National runners in the ante-post lists.

The Irish Grand National – a solid pointer to Aintree glory

In 1998, Tommy Carberry's Bobbyjo took the Irish Grand National and then followed up at Aintree a year later. The same thing happened with Numbersixvalverde, who saw off the other Irish Grand National runners in 2005 before making an even bigger name for himself at the legendary Liverpool track 12 months later. The Irish Grand National winner of 2008, Hear The Echo, is sure to attract market interest as he bids to follow in the hoof prints of those two illustrious rivals and may well be strongly fancied to continue the great recent record at Aintree of successful Irish Grand National horses.