Instead of contesting Sunday’s Grade 1 The Underwriting Exchange Gold Cup Novice Chase, the eight-year-old will now run in the Easter Monday spectacular. Paul Nolan’s horse will carry top-weight of 11st 10lbs and will be joined in race by his stable companion Fitzhenry.

Denise Foster will be represented by Coko Beach, Escaria Ten, Run Wild Fred and Roaring Bull. Champion trainer Willie Mullins has five contenders: Agusta Gold, Brahma Bull, Dragon D’Estruval, Robin De Carlow and Salsaretta.

The Joseph O’Brien-trained Sempo will be joined in the line up by fellow Piltown hopes Home By The Lee, Top Moon and Mortal. Tom Mullins runs both Court Maid and Scoir Mear.

The Big Dog, trained by Peter Fahey, the Robbie Burns-trained Off You Go, Barry Connell’s Espanito Bello, the Denis Hogan-trained Moyhenna and the Ciaran Murphy-trained Enjoy D’Allen will also take their chance.

Tiger Roll not declared

Dual Aintree Grand National winner Tiger Roll is not among the declared runners. The Gigginstown Stud-owned horse will instead contest the Aintree Bowl next week in Liverpool

Commenting on the decision to skip the BoyleSports Irish Grand National, the sponsor’s Leon Blanche:

“We have given cash back to anyone who backed Tiger Roll this week. We are thrilled with the final list of entries.”

Latest Exhibition has taken over as marginal favourite at 6/1. It looks like a wide-open contest with a €400,000 prize fund up for grabs.

The ground at Fairyhouse is currently yielding with a mainly dry forecast, but selective watering has commenced.

TG4, RTÉ, Racing TV and ITV will show action from Fairyhouse over Easter weekend.

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The Board recognised that once the Government’s restrictions have been lifted racing would restart on the Flat and most likely behind closed doors, with adherence to strict social distancing protocols as were successfully operated at ten race fixtures in March.

The Board also confirmed that an enhanced National Hunt programme from October to December 2020 will be revealed later this year and it is intended to include the 2020 BoyleSports Irish Grand National in that programme.

Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive of Horse Racing Ireland said:

“We are working on a range of industry supports which we hope to announce in the coming weeks. Once an achievable target resumption date can be identified, a new fixture list covering the rest of the year will be quickly published based on our on-going work, along with revised race programmes which will cater for the entire horse population.”

Mr Kavanagh continued:

“While the conclusion of the National Hunt season is a major blow for that sector and  jump racing enthusiasts, in making an early decision we want to give as much certainty as possible to owners and trainers and this plan will allow winter National Hunt horses to take advantage of summer grass, reducing the costs for National Hunt owners, with the knowledge of an enhanced programme to come for them from the Autumn onwards, circumstances permitting.”

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The Closutton maestro has 17 horses entered in the 150^th running of the race next month, while his main championship rival Gordon Elliott has an incredible 24 entries for the race.

Elliott provides the top-weighted horse with Delta Work, winner of the Grade 1 Paddy Power Gold Cup and the Grade 1 Savills Chase at Leopardstown, and the Gigginstown House Stud-owned horse has been allotted the maximum weight of 11-10.

Dual Aintree Grand National winner Tiger Roll (11-8) and last year’s Aintree Grand National runner-up Magic Of Light (10-12), from Jessica Harrington’s yard, are notable entries.

Race sponsors BoyleSports make Any Second Now and Milan Native, both previous winners of the Kim Muir Chase at The Cheltenham Festival, the early favourites for the Fairyhouse showpiece.

Ted Walsh’s 2019 Kim Muir victor Any Second Now (10-06) started a well-backed 10-1 for this race last year but fell at the eighth fence, while Milan Native (10-3) was an impressive winner of the 2020 Kim Muir for Gordon Elliott and top amateur rider Rob James.

Paul Nolan’s Discorama recorded a third successive Cheltenham Festival placing when third in the Ultima Handicap Chase last week and has been given 10-4.

Peter Roe, General Manager of Fairyhouse Racecourse said: “We are delighted with the strength in depth of the entries for the BoyleSports Irish Grand National which is due to be staged on Easter Monday, April 13. We hope to celebrate the 150th anniversary of this great race this year and will work in tandem with Horse Racing Ireland to ensure that all guidelines set by the Irish Government are met.”

See the full list of entries for The BoyleSports Irish Grand National here

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