Irish Grand National 2026 — Full Race Preview for Today at Fairyhouse 5pm

It is here. Easter Monday at Fairyhouse. The Irish Grand National goes to post at 5pm today with 30 runners chasing €500,000 over 3 miles and 5 furlongs. No defections from the declared field. The ground is yielding to soft following overnight rainfall from Storm Dave — conditions that suit stayers and horses with proven ability on cut ground. Here is everything you need to know before the off. The Favourite The Jukebox Kid heads the market at 6/1 and the case for him is straightforward. Three wins from four starts over fences. Grade 2 Reynoldstown winner at Ascot in February. Ben Pauling has deliberately pointed him at this race all season, skipping Cheltenham to arrive fresh. Three from four over fences, all wins on right-handed tracks. The Irish handicapper noted a mark of 144 could still be lenient. The soft ground arriving today plays to his stamina profile. His only concern is experience — just six career starts in total, which is light for a horse going into a 30-runner marathon. The Market Second Strings Kiss Will and Soldier In Milan are both available around 8/1. Kiss Will is the Willie Mullins runner whose jockey Paul Townend has made his choice — and Townend chose Kiss Will over Argento Boy, who was the earlier market leader. Kiss Will's Punchestown form over staying trips and his Listed win at Perth over three miles last season make the trip look well within him. Soldier In Milan for Emmet Mullins has had an entire season specifically targeted at this race. His bumper win at the 2025 Punchestown Festival beat King Rasko Grey, who went on to win the Turners Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham. The horses around him have been winning. The Each-Way Angle The Irish Grand National has produced winners at 20/1 twice, 40/1 once and 150/1 once in the last ten years. The favourite has won just twice in the same period. The historical sweet spot for winners is the 12/1 to 25/1 range on a horse aged six to eight, carrying 10st 8lb or less, with at least three seasonal runs. Better Times Ahead fits the profile at bigger odds — a dual course winner at Fairyhouse including in the Porterstown Handicap Chase over 3m6f, the exact type of course evidence that counts most at this track. Trainer Robert Tyner flagged this race as the primary target after his last Fairyhouse win. The combination of course form, soft ground preference and trainer targeting makes him one of the most interesting each-way plays in the field. Showurappreciation, ridden by Mark Walsh, is another who demands respect. Walsh is retained for the McManus operation and his booking here over the other McManus runners tells you exactly where that powerful ownership group's confidence sits today. A horse on a four-timer bid with the best jockey in the business is not one to dismiss lightly. What the Trends Say All ten of the last ten winners had at least three runs in their winning season. Seven of ten had won over three miles or further that season. Six to eight year olds dominate. Favourites win 30% of the time — which means backing against the favourite with a structured each-way play has been the profitable strategy in seven of the last ten renewals. Horse Racing Oracle AI Selection Our Irish Grand National NAP will be published separately on the blog before the 5pm off. Sign up free at horseracingoracleai.com to get it delivered before the market moves. Want free AI-powered tips every morning? Sign up free at horseracingoracleai.com -> Betting involves risk. Please gamble responsibly. Visit BeGambleAware.org.