Who Is Leading the Market for the 2025 Irish Grand National?

Who Is Leading the Market for the 2025 Irish Grand National?

 

We take a look at the current favourite for Easter Monday’s big race at Fairyhouse

The 2025 Irish Grand National is set to take place at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday (April 21), with a prize pot of €500,000 on offer in what is Ireland’s most prestigious jumps handicap.

A gruelling test of both stamina and jumping, the race is contested over 3 miles and 5 furlongs and features 24 fences, often producing surprise outcomes – not least when Freewheelin Dylan landed a shock win at 150/1 in 2021.

This year’s renewal is shaping up to be another wide-open affair. Cheltenham winner Haiti Couleurs currently heads the betting for Britain, while Ireland’s leading hopes include Now Is The Hour and Johnnywho.

The Irish have dominated this race in recent years, winning every edition since 2014. The key question in 2025 is whether Haiti Couleurs, the ante-post market leader, can end that winning streak for the home team.

 

2025 Irish Grand National Favourite: Haiti Couleurs

Haiti Couleurs is the current frontrunner in the betting for this year’s Irish Grand National, best priced at 6/1 with Ladbrokes. His strong claims come on the back of a commanding performance in a 3m6f race at Cheltenham, proving both his stamina and ability on the big stage.

Trained by Rebecca Curtis, the eight-year-old boasts an impressive record in long-distance chases and typically adopts a bold, front-running style – a tactic that could be well suited to the demands of Fairyhouse.

Although the statistics are not in his favour – with favourites and British raiders both struggling historically – Haiti Couleurs fits the key trends when it comes to age, weight, and recent form. If he can cope with the hustle and bustle of a large field, he has every chance of overturning recent patterns.

 

Second Favourite: Now Is The Hour

Next in the market is Now Is The Hour, available at a best price of 8/1. Trained by Gavin Cromwell, this novice chaser was running a big race in the 3m6f National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham before coming down late on.

Despite the fall, the performance underlined his staying credentials, and his emphatic 17-length Grade 2 win at Haydock over hurdles adds further weight to his profile.

As an Irish-trained horse, he benefits from the strong recent record of home-based runners in the Irish Grand National, and he looks to be a major contender if he completes cleanly.

 

Each-Way Contender: Johnnywho

Johnnywho, trained by Jonjo O’Neill and owned by J.P. McManus, has also attracted support for the 2025 renewal and can be backed at 10/1 with leading bookmaker Boylesports.

The eight-year-old caught the eye when finishing second in the Kim Muir Handicap Chase at this year’s Cheltenham Festival, staying on strongly to suggest he can handle the stamina test posed by 3m5f at Fairyhouse.

Although he has only one victory over fences so far, his consistent handicap form and Cheltenham run indicate he could be well suited to this kind of contest. His ability to stay and perform in competitive fields makes him a lively each-way proposition.