Boylesports Irish Grand National
Grade A Handicap, Fairyhouse 17:00 €500,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 3m 5f, Class 1
Tweet Monday 21st April 2025

Haiti Couleurs, a name now etched into Cheltenham history, has his sights set on the BoyleSports Irish Grand National, and if his Cheltenham Festival performance was anything to go by, he’ll take some stopping!

👏 Classy performance - Haiti Couleurs wins the National Hunt Chase pic.twitter.com/9sauNlytFc

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 11, 2025

Trained by Rebecca Curtis, the eight-year-old made light work of the new-look National Hunt Chase, jumping with confidence and storming up the hill to win with ease under Ben Jones. Curtis is brimming with confidence, believing the Fairyhouse showpiece could be the perfect next step.

Gavin Cromwell could saddle as many as seven runners—and whatever way the weather breaks between now and Easter Sunday at Fairyhouse, he looks to have all bases covered.

While the fortunes of some—namely Velvet Elvis and Bioluminescence—rest heavily on the clouds opening, the rest of the Meath trainer’s team are far more forgiving underfoot. Now Is The Hour, Yeah Man, Malina Girl, Final Orders and Noble Birth all remain in the mix, and Cromwell is cautiously optimistic.

“We’re happy with them, wherever the ground lands,” Cromwell said. “Some will want it quicker, some would appreciate a bit of ease. The ground is going to be a big factor for a few of them.”

At the top of that list is Velvet Elvis, whose need for softer conditions has been well documented. Bioluminescence falls into the same category, though Cromwell is weighing up a Grade One alternative for her over two and a half miles in the WillowWarm Gold Cup.

“She loves proper soft ground,” he explained. “She’s got the mares’ allowance in the Grade One, and while I’m not convinced how well she’s handicapped, she does have options.”

In contrast, Now Is The Hour walks the line between the extremes, with Cromwell describing him as one that “wouldn’t want it firm, but doesn’t need it deep either.”

“He was very well handicapped a few runs ago—but not anymore,” Cromwell added wryly. “He went up 10lb just for running well in a beginners’ chase to get into the National Hunt Chase, then another 5lb for falling at the second-last when going well. He hasn’t won, but he’s gone up 15lb. Still, at least he gets in.”

Malina Girl, a Cheltenham eye-catcher, is seen as one of the more straightforward members of the team.

“She’s very consistent and versatile. You wouldn’t want it knee-deep, but I don’t think we’re in danger of that,” Cromwell said. “She came out of Cheltenham really well, and her owners have had a brilliant year—Only By Night ran second in the Arkle, and they’ve been a lucky bunch for us.”

Further down the weights, Cromwell has three potential dark horses in Yeah Man, Final Orders, and Noble Birth.

“Yeah Man won the Grand National Trial at Haydock last year, and although he’s gone up a fair bit since, he stays well and will appreciate the step back up in trip,” Cromwell said. “He ran OK in the Kim Muir but would have liked a bit more ease underfoot. Three-five will help.”

As for Final Orders, there’s a sense he might be lurking on a good mark. Second in the Ulster National last time, Cromwell is eyeing a quick turnaround—but not without upside.

“He went up 5lb for that run but doesn’t carry the penalty here, so he’s effectively 5lb well-in,” he pointed out. “He’s tough and versatile, which is what you want in a race like this.”

And then there’s Noble Birth, the lowest-rated of the lot but not without hope.

“If he gets in, he runs. That’s been the plan for a while. He’s off a nice weight, in great form, and we’d be hopeful.”

Despite a career-best season—highlighted by Inothewayurthinkin’s unforgettable Gold Cup triumph—Cromwell admits the Irish National has remained elusive.

“I’ve never had any luck in it,” he said. “One of the few locals not to have won it—or even gone close! So hopefully this is the year.”

Boylesports Irish Grand National Chase
(Extended Handicap) (Grade A)
€500,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 3m 5f, Class 1
78 remaining entries
Going:

NO. FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY (form as of Apr 09)
1 11-P82 I Am Maximus 9 11-12 W P Mullins
2 -P6253 Grangeclare West 9 11-7 W P Mullins
3 3-4111 Nick Rockett 8 11-6 W P Mullins
4 1-902P Intense Raffles 7 11-1 Thomas Gibney
5 3-1213 Better Days Ahead 7 10-13 Gordon Elliott
6 1-1131 Impaire Et Passe 7 10-12 W P Mullins
7 86411F Perceval Legallois 8 10-12 Gavin Cromwell
8 -2F424 Iroko 7 10-11 Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
9 -58947 Minella Cocooner 9 10-11 W P Mullins
10 1-116F Dancing City 8 10-10 W P Mullins
11 00-573 Kilcruit 10 10-10 W P Mullins
12 222314 Monbeg Park 8 10-8 Sean Thomas Doyle
13 1-111P Stumptown 8 10-8 Gavin Cromwell
14 P2-212 High Class Hero 8 10-7 W P Mullins
15 1-31UB Quai De Bourbon 6 10-7 W P Mullins
16 7-0085 Meetingofthewaters 8 10-6 W P Mullins
17 -13332 Johnnywho 8 10-5 Jonjo & A J O'Neill
18 P1-028 Velvet Elvis 9 10-5 Gavin Cromwell
19 1P-122 Bioluminescence 7 10-4 Gavin Cromwell
20 57/512 Harry Des Ongrais 8 10-4 Henry De Bromhead
21 52P4BU Duffle Coat 8 10-3 Gordon Elliott
22 1-8331 Favori De Champdou 10 10-2 Gordon Elliott
23 -12307 Search For Glory 8 10-2 Gordon Elliott
24 844120 Sequestered 7 10-2 Paul John Gilligan
25 -P4300 Desertmore House 10 10-1 Martin Brassil
26 32-352 Loughglynn 7 10-1 W P Mullins
27 54-323 Malina Girl 8 10-1 Gavin Cromwell
28 40-703 Panda Boy 9 10-1 Martin Brassil
29 -21576 Roi Mage 13 10-1 Patrick Griffin
30 9-34U9 Yeah Man 8 10-1 Gavin Cromwell
31 -21131 Haiti Couleurs 8 10-0 Rebecca Curtis
32 2-654F Now Is The Hour 8 10-0 Gavin Cromwell
33 111533 Shecouldbeanything 8 10-0 Gordon Elliott
34 -21513 Sa Majeste 7 9-13 W P Mullins
35 672-45 Any Second Now 13 9-12 T M Walsh
36 467/4P Lord Lariat 10 9-11 Dermot A McLoughlin
37 15310P Stuzzikini 7 9-11 Gordon Elliott
38 -53039 Tullybeg 10 9-11 Gordon Elliott
39 5P-331 Daily Present 8 9-10 Paul Nolan
40 -3703U Mint Boy 7 9-10 Gavin Cromwell
41 2P-461 Olympic Man 8 9-10 W P Mullins
42 -0664P Busselton 8 9-9 Joseph O'Brien
43 1-P0UP Macdermott 7 9-9 W P Mullins
44 432111 Wonderwall 9 9-9 S Curling
45 0-443U Captain Cody 7 9-8 W P Mullins
46 PP-P11 Dunboyne 10 9-8 Ian Patrick Donoghue
47 700632 Final Orders 9 9-8 Gavin Cromwell
48 3-322U Kinturk Kalanisi 7 9-8 Thomas Gibney
49 227231 Paggane 6 9-8 W P Mullins
50 6P-074 Spanish Harlem 7 9-8 W P Mullins
51 31-5P1 Bushmans Pass 9 9-6 Oliver McKiernan
52 3F27U5 Moonovercloon 8 9-6 Matthew J Smith
53 21P443 A Penny A Hundred 6 9-5 W P Mullins
54 744292 Another Choice 8 9-5 Matthew J Smith
55 10-73U Chosen Witness 8 9-5 W P Mullins
56 -4114F Hasthing 8 9-5 Jonjo & A J O'Neill
57 -F1135 Judicieuse Allen 6 9-5 W P Mullins
58 -27331 Noble Birth 8 9-5 Gavin Cromwell
59 -81112 O'Connell 9 9-4 Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith
60 33-113 Val Dancer 8 9-4 Mel Rowley
61 325623 Will Do 8 9-4 Gordon Elliott
62 5-0987 Macs Charm 10 9-3 C A Murphy
63 575821 Canal End 7 9-2 Peter Fahey
64 -F476P Cleatus Poolaw 7 9-2 Gordon Elliott
65 5342F5 The Short Go 8 9-2 Henry De Bromhead
66 502015 Fortunedefortunata 8 9-1 Gordon Elliott
67 -P116O History Of Fashion 11 9-1 P A Fahy
68 311348 Outside The Door 9 8-13 Padraig Roche
69 -21137 Herakles Westwood 8 8-12 Warren Greatrex
70 666023 Jumping Jet 9 8-11 Gordon Elliott
71 2-4422 Union Station 6 8-11 Gavin Cromwell
72 -0P908 Klarc Kent 9 8-9 W P Mullins
73 55F313 Prince Palace 7 8-9 P A Fahy
74 1-1111 Aworkinprogress 6 8-8 Nick Gifford
75 23363P Iris Emery 7 8-7 W P Mullins
76 33P5U4 Inis Oirr 8 8-6 Lucinda Russell
77 7U5221 Brandt 7 8-5 Cian Collins
78 31-4P7 The Gradual Slope 8 8-4 Sean O O'Brien