Irish Grand National: confirmed runners and riders

5.00 Fairyhouse
BoyleSports Irish Grand National Chase | 3m5f, 5yo+ | Live on RTE2/RTV

Gordon Elliott will saddle 12 runners in a bid to repeat last year's success in the Boylesports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Monday.

Mullins runs seven in bid for first Irish National victory
Focus on the trainers trying to topple Mullins and Elliott

Elliott, who landed the €500,000 showpiece for the first time with General Principle last year, has a team featuring the likes of 2018 JLT Novices' Chase winner Shattered Love, Blow By Blow, Jury Duty and Monbeg Notorious in a strong attempt to double up.

General Principle will again be in the line-up as he bids to become the first back-to-back winner of the Irish Grand National since Brown Lad – a three-time victor of the race – in 1976.

The Punt: Maddy Playle with her selection for the Irish Grand National

Gigginstown House Stud, like Elliott, will have 12 runners as the O'Leary brothers seek a fifth success in the contest.

The dozen includes top weight Tout Est Permis, whose trainer Noel Meade reported on Friday: "He's in very good form and I couldn't be happier with him.

Keith Melrose's verdict

An unexposed, prominent-racing horse with the promise for marathon trips leads to a few paths, perhaps the most appealing of which is Shady Operator at the foot of the weights. If he can keep the mistakes down, he should go well.

"He's never gone beyond three miles so it's hard to know if he'll stay the longer distance, although we think he will."

Meade will be bidding for a second win in the race, which he landed with The Bunny Boiler in 2002.

Willie Mullins will saddle seven runners in his bid for a first victory in the 3m5f test.

Guide to the market leaders

Burrows Saint (8-1 favourite)
Ruby Walsh's choice of the seven Willie Mullins-trained runners. Novice, who has only run in five chases, winning his last two

Pairofbrowneyes (12-1)
Another Mullins-trained runner who will be ridden by Paul Townend. Won Leinster National at Naas on most recent start in March.

How to best on racingpost.com

Shady Operator (11-1)
Joseph O'Brien's runner creeps in at the bottom of the weights. Seventh at the Cheltenham Festival. First start at Fairyhouse

Jury Duty (12-1)
Gordon Elliott's runner unseated his rider in the Grand National. Had won previous two races and has a record of 331 at Fairyhouse.

Any Second Now (12-1)
Ted Walsh had a winner at the track on Sunday and he runs last month's Kim Muir winner, who will be ridden by Mark Walsh. Beaten a neck on his only start at Fairyhouse.

Runners and riders

1 Tout Est Permis (Sean Flanagan)
2 Dounikos (Keith Donoghue)
3 Jury Duty (Robbie Power)
4 Pairofbrowneyes (Paul Townend)
5 Total Recall (Mr Patrick Mullins)
6 Shattered Love (Davy Russell)
7 A Toi Phil (Rachael Blackmore)
8 Acapella Bourgeois (Jonathan Burke)
9 Any Second Now (Mark Walsh)
10 Monbeg Notorious (Conor Brassil 5)
11 Minella Rocco (Mr Derek O'Connor)
12 Snugsborough Benny (Denis O'Regan)
13 Burrows Saint (Ruby Walsh)
14 General Principle (Donagh Meyler)
15 Auvergnat (Miss Aine O'Connor 5)
16 Isleofhopendreams (Danny Mullins)
17 Blow By Blow (Jody McGarvey)
18 Valseur Lido (Hugh Morgan 7)
19 Woods Well (Bryan Cooper)
20 C'est Jersey (Katie O'Farrell 5)
21 Out Sam (Brian Hayes)
22 Gun Digger (Jack Kennedy)
23 Whisperinthebreeze (Paddy Kennedy)
24 Roaring Bull (Luke Dempsey)
25 Forever Gold (Adam Short 3)
26 Bellow Mome (David Mullins)
27 Kimberlite Candy (Richie McLernon)
28 Measureofmydreams (Mark Enright)
29 Shady Operator (JJ Slevin)
30 Arkwrisht (Andrew Ring)

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