Valuable consolation race in the frame for Irish National

A six-figure Irish Grand National consolation race will be considered for 2018 if Easter Monday's record €500,000 renewal of the prestigious Fairyhouse feature attracts a sufficient surplus of declarations.

Come Easter Monday, the BoyleSports-sponsored showpiece will be the most valuable jumps race ever staged in Ireland. The massive prize fund attracted a bumper 124-strong initial entry, a figure 13 per cent higher than for Aintree.

After the first forfeit stage, there are still 101 contenders left in the 3m6f handicap. A maximum field of 30 will go to post and, while last year's €275,000 edition attracted just 29 final declarations, Horse Racing Ireland chief executive Brian Kavanagh has stated that a consolation race would be considered if there is a demand for it.

"Depending on what pans out on declaration day, it is certainly something that will be considered," Kavanagh said on Thursday.

"Last year 93 entries were whittled down to 29 and only 27 ran but, if we find there is excess demand, running an alternative for those who don't get in is something we would consider.

"I think it would have to be a six-figure prize fund if you were going to do it and you would want a competitive field of 20 runners.

"The Grand National is even more complex because we declare for a Monday on a Friday, and it is a bank holiday Friday, so it is almost a four-day declaration.

"This year as well, Fairyhouse falls a week before the Punchestown festival, so if a horse doesn't get into the Fairyhouse race there are opportunities there for them at Punchestown.

"You wouldn't put it on if we weren't satisfied that there is a need for it, and the age-old problem with the National is that it's on in the middle of March one year and the middle of April the next year. It's tricky, especially if you are running it the week before Punchestown."

Referencing similar initiatives in Britain, Kavanagh added: "The Topham Chase isn't a consolation race, but a lot of horses who don't get into the National run in it.

"The Stewards' Cup has a consolation race and the Ayr Gold Cup has two. We've never really had a handicap like that in Ireland."

In recent weeks, following the unprecedented success of Irish-trained horses at Cheltenham, Kavanagh has emphasised HRI's policy of promoting quality in the race programme, something that has attracted criticism from smaller-scale handlers who feel poorly catered for.

"The first thing with the National was to get it up to a higher level and trainers have responded even better than we expected in that regard," Kavanagh said of the Irish Grand National, of which 16 of the 30 horses guaranteed a run are owned by either JP McManus or Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud, who between them have won the last three runnings.

"For your top National Hunt race of the year, you don't want to have people disappointed, so we will see how it goes this year and then take stock.

"Traditionally, when horses win at Cheltenham in March, people talk about Punchestown next. What this move with BoyleSports has done is help to put the Irish National back, front and centre as the most valuable National Hunt race. Now, it is about developing it and the National meeting a bit more."

Irish Grand National card and betting