Irish Grand National 2026 Tips — Who to Back at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday

Five days. That is all that separates us from the BoyleSports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday, April 6th. With €500,000 in prize money, 84 entries narrowing toward a competitive field, and the Irish trainers' championship potentially on the line, this is the most anticipated staying handicap chase in Ireland. The final declarations confirm in the days ahead. Here is the current state of the market and where the value sits. The Market Leaders Johnnywho heads the market alongside Oscars Brother as joint favourites following his Cheltenham Festival Ultima win, which saw his Aintree odds slashed from 40/1 to 16/1 immediately after the race. The Ultima has a strong record of producing horses that run well in National-type contests — the staying evidence it provides over three miles on a demanding track is directly relevant to the demands of 3m5f at Fairyhouse. Mark Walsh is confirmed to ride, which is a powerful confidence signal from the JP McManus operation. Oscars Brother brings back-to-back Grade 2 wins to the table alongside a fourth place in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at Cheltenham. His profile suggests a horse that has been building steadily and specifically toward this assignment. The Each-Way Angle Grangeclare West is the horse the data points to most consistently for each-way purposes. His win in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse in February — by five and a half lengths on heavy ground — is directly relevant form over a similar trip at the same track. He finished third in the 2025 Aintree Grand National. He has genuine staying credentials, proven Fairyhouse form, and a weight that is more manageable than the market leaders. At 12/1 he is available at a price that reflects the competitive market without accounting for the specificity of his course and trip evidence. The Trends Filter The historical record continues to point in the same direction it always has. All ten of the last ten winners had at least three runs in the season. Seven of the ten had already won over three miles or further in the same campaign. Six to eight year olds dominate the winner's enclosure. Horses carrying 10st 8lb or less outperform those under big weights. The favourite wins around 30% of the time — meaning 70% of renewals go to a bigger-priced runner typically sitting between 12/1 and 33/1. The Trainer Battle Gordon Elliott has 15 entries against Willie Mullins' 20. Elliott leads Mullins by €376,000 in the Irish trainers' championship — and a single win in the Irish Grand National at €500,000 prize money could swing the title decisively. Both yards are incentivised to run their best horses at their sharpest. When declarations confirm, watch which horses from both yards retain their highest-profile jockeys — that confirmation will be the clearest signal of where each yard's principal confidence lies. Horse Racing Oracle AI will publish its Irish Grand National selection once final declarations are confirmed. Watch the daily blog for the tip 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.