In just a couple of months, the Irish Grand National will take place at Fairyhouse racecourse. More specifically, in 2023, it will be run on 10th April – Easter Monday, which is why the date varies from year to year. If you’ve started preparing already, here are a few tips and pointers that should be of great help.
History of the Irish Grand National
In case you are new to the Irish Grand National, we can go over some of its history. It has not become a jumping highlight of the year overnight. It was first run back in 1870. The first horse ever to win was Sir Robert Peel. The most successful horse at the track is Brown Lad, as he won three times in the 1970s (1975, 1976 and 1978). The jockey with the most wins is Pat Taaffe, with six different horses.
The race has never changed venues. Before 1991, it was 3 miles and 4 furlongs long, but since then it’s 3 miles and 5 furlongs. That means that the horses are meant to run 5,834 meters and jump over 24 fences. It is a handicap race that allows horses aged five and older. Seeing as how it takes place on Easter Monday, it’s known to attract many racegoers from Dublin.
Previous winners
There is no point in listing all the previous winners since 1870. However, some recent winners are worth mentioning. For example, in 2018, General Principle was victorious while Burrows Saint took the crown in 2019. Due to COVID, there was no race in 2020. Then, Freewheelin Dylan won in 2021 and the top three in 2022 were Lord Lariat, Frontal Assault and Gaillard du Mesnil.
What should a punter know before betting?
As a punter, you should be aware of the fact that you can place bets before and during the race. For one, there is betting ante-post. That means placing a bet on the horse of your choosing weeks before the race. This comes with the opportunity to find some great odds. However, it also entails risk. In case the horse doesn’t end up running or making the final, you lose your stake. Some bookmakers offer refunds on this bet. Bets typically start heating up around January, but you will see odds change as trial races are being held and there is more build-up. For example, currently, Gaillard du Mesnil and Ain’t That A Shame have the best odds of winning.
On the other hand, you can wait for the event to arrive and then place your bets according to the odds that are available. That way, you will see who actually qualified and who will be running.
Where can one bet on the Irish Grand National?
For one, if you plan on travelling to the Fairyhouse racetrack, you can place a bet there. However, if that’s simply not in the cards, you can also pop down to the local betting shop and make your wager there.
On the other hand, you can also bet from the comfort of your home. For example, it’s easy to find Irish Grand National betting sites that list all the participants and their odds. That way, you have access to all the information no matter where you are, which makes it simple to see who the favourite is and place a wager on them.
What are the current betting trends?
When it comes to betting trends, it’s useful to look at some past winners to help you decide who to bet on in the 2023 Irish Grand National. For instance, 19 of the last 20 winners were carrying less than 11 stone in weight. Last year’s winner, Lord Lariat, carried just 9st and 12lbs. Then, the age, going and track record are all important as well. As bookmakers look at these trends when setting the odds, it’s useful to familiarize yourself with them as well in order to understand why someone is a favourite and which betting decision is the smartest.
Some tips on betting
Lastly, let’s go over some useful betting tips.
To begin with, there is the single-win bet, which means that you are betting on the winner of the race. If the horse you’ve backed fails to win, your wager will fail too. When placing a bet, make sure you don’t invest too much money into it, as the winner is very difficult to call due to the presence of hurdles.
Then, you can also opt for place and show bets that make it possible to profit even if the horse you’ve backed to win fails to do so. By placing a place bet, the horse can finish second as well while a show bet allows them to finish as low as third. This is a solid option for the Irish Grand National.
If you’re thinking about following and betting on the 2023 Irish Grand National, keep these tips in mind for great results.
