Clash of the titans: Mullins and Elliott square up in fight for a first National

They conquered Cheltenham this month, but the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse remains a fairytale yet to be told.

Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott have each trained Royal Ascot winners, but the two superpowers of Irish jump racing have not yet managed to plunder Ireland's richest jumps prize, despite the fact that they have had 43 runners between them in the last decade.

Before Sunday's card at Downpatrick, Elliott had earned €4,000,339 in prize-money and led Mullins by €474,901.

The BoyleSports Irish Grand National carries a whopping €500,000 in prize-money, with €270,000 going to the winner.

BoyleSports Irish Grand National, card, form and betting

If Elliott wins it, his lead could be unassailable. If Mullins manages to break his duck then he will surely fancy his chances of storming home to score at Punchestown once again.

Of the 84 horses remaining in the race with a week to go, Elliott is responsible for a staggering 27 of them. Mullins has 14 possibles. Surely the hoodoo will end for one of them?

Recent records (2008-2017)

Willie Mullins

The 2008 running was a tale of woe for Willie Mullins as neither Alexander Taipan (fell) nor Homer Wells (pulled up) managed to finish.

Pomme Tiepy did best of his three-pronged attack in 2009, finishing fifth to Niche Market. The trainer had two runners in 2010, with Ballytrim taking tenth and Equus Maximus pulled up.

Pomme Tiepy: did best of the Mullins trio in 2009Credit: Caroline Norris

Some Target was the shortest price of his three runners in 2011 but was pulled up. Quiscover Fontaine was fourth under David Casey.

Some Target was again pulled up in 2012, as were Raptor, Shakervilz and Allee Garde.

Away We Go was narrowly denied for the Closutton stable in 2013, going down by half a length to Liberty Counsel. Marasonnien was his only other runner that year.

Away We Go was back 12 months later to try to go one better but could finish only ninth, while Touch The Eden was pulled up.

Perfect Gentleman and Dogora were pulled up in 2015 and, remarkably, in 2016 Mullins did not have a runner in the race as Ruby Walsh rode the runner-up Bless The Wings.

There were three representatives from Closutton last year, with Haymount finishing seventh. Arbre De Vie being brought down at the eighth fence and Sambremont being pulled up.

Runners (2008-2017): 23
Best finish: Second in 2013 with Away We Go

Gordon Elliott

His first runner in the Irish Grand National was not until 2011 and it was a fruitless experience as 16-1 shot Backstage was pulled up by Paul Carberry before five out.

He fired only one dart for the next two years as Roi Du Mee was eighth in 2012 and Romanesco came down at the last when in fourth in 2013.

Elliott was doubly represented in 2014 with Jamsie Hall (fourth) doing best of his pair as Cause Of Causes trailed in 12th. It is hard to believe Elliott had no runner in the 2015 running won by Thunder And Roses.

Bless The Wings: agonisingly defeated in the 2016 Irish Grand NationalCredit: Caroline Norris

Four of his six contenders in 2016 were pulled up, but Bless The Wings almost did the business under Ruby Walsh, going down by a short head to Rogue Angel. Killer Crow was seventh.

Elliott was responsible for nine of the 28 runners in 2017, with Bless The Wings once again doing the team proud and filling the runner-up spot for the second year running.

Runners (2008-2017): 20
Best finish: Second in 2016 and 2017 with Bless The Wings

My top five from Team Mullins

1 Bellshill
A Grade 1-winning hurdler, a Grade 2-winning novice chaser who was third to Might Bite in the 2017 RSA Chase and a fresh horse, having only a the sole start this season. He bossed the Bobbyjo but earned himself an 8lb penalty in the process, which is hardly ideal. He still looks a leading player and has a touch of class.
BoyleSports price: 10-1

Bellshill: looks an ideal type for this having won the Bobbyjo Chase, a recognised trialCredit: Patrick McCann

2 Pairofbrowneyes
Never shaped like a stayer when with Liz Doyle or Barry Murphy, but stormed to success in a 2m7f handicap chase at Gowran Park on his debut for Willie Mullins. Like Bellshill, he too has been handed a penalty and will carry 9lb more than his original mark. However, he looks a reformed character and remains a fascinating contender.
BoyleSports: 10-1

3 Isleofhopendreams
Lacks the class of the two above but has rock-solid handicap chase form and traded at a low of 1.04 when collared late by Folsom Blue in the Grand National Trial at Punchestown. If you fancy Folsom Blue you have to give Isleofhopeandreams some sort of squeak.
BoyleSports: 20-1

4 Acapella Bourgeois
An enigma. Has looked awesome at times, but awful more times. Constantly attracts heavy support in the market but has yet to deliver for the champion trainer. Has been tried over all sorts of trips and has more questions to answer than most.
BoyleSports: 16-1

5 Pleasant Company
Has completely lost his way and form figures of 90P would not get you excited, but he is now rated 4lb lower than the mark he finished ninth off in the Aintree Grand National last season and he won the Bobbyjo in 2017.
BoyleSports: 20-1

My top five from Team Elliott

1 Jury Duty
Sent off favourite for the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham but was beaten when unseating at the second-last. The ground was all against him there and the trip may have been a few furlongs too far. Has beaten JLT winner Shattered Love already this season and must be a major player if none the worse for his Cheltenham spill.
BoyleSports: 20-1

2 Folsom Blue
Looks a reformed character since joining Elliott and justified favouritism in the Grand National Trial at Punchestown with a late rally to deny Isleofhopendreams. He's now 9lb higher in the handicap but stays longer than Arsene Wenger and looks an ideal type for the Easter Monday marathon.
BoyleSports: 12-1

3 Monbeg Notorious
The Thyestes winner would relish bottomless ground like he encountered when destroying a competitive looking field at Gowran Park. He has since followed up in the Grade 2 Ten Up Novice Chase at Naas and this rapidly improving novice looks sure to be a major player if there is soft in the going description.
BoyleSports: 14-1

4 Squouateur
Has burned punters' wallets time and time again and did so in the Kim Muir this month when third behind Missed Approach and Mall Dini. Always looks on the cusp of winning a big handicap and a repeat of his third in the Paddy Power at Leopardstown would bring him right into the reckoning. He needs to jump better.
BoyleSports: 10-1

Squouateur: finished third behind Missed Approach in the Kim Muir last timeCredit: Patrick McCann

5 Dounikos
The decision to run in the RSA rather than the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham backfired as he had his limitations exposed at the top level. A handicap over this sort of trip off a mark of 151 would look more his cup of tea and he would be dangerous to underestimate if back to his best.
BoyleSports: 16-1

What they say

Gordon Elliott
"It's a race I'd love to win and we went close with Bless The Wings a few years ago. I could run ten or 11 in it. Outlander will run at the top of the weights, while Folsom Blue, Monbeg Notorious and Dounikos are others who you'd like to think would have some sort of chance."

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