Irish National a race to savour so please treat it with respect

Easter Monday means a lot of race meetings – nine in Britain and Ireland – but above all it means the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse. It’s a race full of history with the special tang of a possibly crucial role in deciding whether Gordon Elliott or Willie Mullins is crowned champion trainer.

Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s controversial chief executive, isn’t an easy man to like which makes it harder to warm to the sight of a field awash with his Gigginstown House Stud colours. A staggering 14 of the 30 contenders, eight of them trained by Elliott, who also has two other runners, represent O’Leary. You’d think they’d run out of different coloured caps. Be grateful you’re not the commentator.

The battle is given extra bite by O’Leary’s decision last autumn to move his horses from Mullins rather than accept an increase in training fees. Three of Gigginstown Stud’s runners, Roi Des Francs, Tell Us More and Measureofmydreams were formerly with Mullins, who fields three runners – Haymount, Arbre De Vie and Sambremont.

It is not often JP McManus is relegated to a supporting role but his team of three – Minella Foru, Shutthefrontdoor and Oscar Knight – are heavily outnumbered.

The winner has a lot to live up to because the Irish Grand National, first run in 1870, has been won by some of the sport’s iconic figures, both equine and human. A certain humility will be appropriate.

Tom Dreaper won every running of the race from 1960 to 1966, with the mighty Arkle in 1964 and the mighty Flyingbolt two years later, both ridden by Pat Taaffe. Taaffe wasn’t a pretty sight in a finish but his horsemanship had often won the race by then.

Dreaper won the Irish National eight times in all and his son Jim won it three years in a row, from 1974 to 1976 and again in 1978 with Brown Lad. It was Brown Lad’s third victory, on the last two occasions when carrying 12st 2lb. Arkle had carried 12st and Flyingbolt a modern record of 12st 7lb.

They were great weight carrying performances, since matched only by Desert Orchid in 1990 and Flashing Steel in 1995, both of them carrying 12st. This year the top weight is 11st 7lb and the last horse to win the race carrying more than 11st was Commanche Court, who won under 11st 4lb in 2000.

They were remarkable horses but there have been remarkable horsemen, too. Captain Guy Disney is justifiably admired for winning twice over fences at Sandown this year despite missing half a leg. Major Frank Wise went half a leg better in 1929 when winning the Irish Grand National on Alike when missing a leg (a wooden one was substituted) as well as three fingers.

Victory for Gigginstown Stud would be less romantic than, for instance, Ellmarie Holden and Rachael Blackmore, who have achieved so much already, teaming up to win with Abolitionist. What a triumph that would be!

Personally I’m hoping that Minella Foru puts Edward Harty on the roll of honour.