Historically, the Aintree Grand National has been held annually during the month of April. There have been a few occasions when the Saturday in question fell at the end of March, but more often than not, it has maintained its consistency and takes place within the first two weeks of the month.
Not so with the Irish Grand National at Punchestown, which follows the Easter calendar and is always held on Easter Monday, irrespective of when that falls.
For those of you who are not particularly familiar with the religious festival, Easter is determined by both the Spring Equinox and the full moon. I’m not kidding!
The spring equinox is not a fixed date, so the Catholic Church set a fixed date of March 21 to define it.
Easter is then celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon that occurs on or after the spring equinox. If the full moon falls on a Sunday, then Easter is celebrated the following Sunday.
That means it can fall anywhere between March 22nd and April 25th. If you’re wondering why that’s important in the context of the Grand National, it is because quite a few owners and trainers would like to run their horses in both, but more often than not, they must choose between them.
That has a knock-on effect on the betting markets. Up until a few days before either race, horses can still technically be entered into both. So, if you like a flutter or play on betting sites, knowing which race a horse will ultimately run in can affect the bets that you make.
That said, most Irish Grand National winners wait until the following year to take their chances at Aintree. It is a tried and tested path to success for quite a few, including I Am Maximus, who won the Irish in 2023 before tasting victory at Aintree in 2024.
And now we have Intense Raffles, hoping to repeat that pattern in 2025.
Intense Raffles Road To Aintree
Six-year-old Intense Raffles clinched victory in the 2024 Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on April 1st.
Under the expert guidance of jockey JJ Slevin, the Thomas Gibney-trained gelding surged to triumph at odds of 13-2, outpacing the seasoned Any Second Now (14-1) and Minella Cocooner (20-1), who secured second and third places respectively.
It was Gibney’s second Irish Grand National win, a dozen years after his initial success with Lion Na Bearnai in 2012. For Slevin, it was a sweet return to the winner’s enclosure, echoing his 2018 triumph aboard General Principle.
Owned by the partnership of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, Intense Raffles displayed a flawless jumping with Gibney, visibly moved by the victory.
He stated: “He’s just a good horse, when you ride a good horse you just get a feeling that this horse is so much better than the others.”
As the youngest horse in the field, the win hinted at a very promising future for Intense Raffles, and as such, he is now the second favourite in the Grand National betting markets for the 2025 renewal.
Ironically, while connections will be hoping he can emulate the success of I Am Maximus, he also looks to be his main rival if the two go head-to-head on April 5th 2025.
The odds are stacked against him however for three reasons. He will only be seven years old, he is a grey horse (only three have ever won in the history of the race) and of course he will be up against the Willie Mullins trained gladiator that is I Am Maximus.
Incidentally, and if you were looking for another reason, only five horses have won both races so aiming to be number six will be a huge ask of Intense Raffles.
That is of course, if he runs. Ante-post odds of 20/1 put him in a good position and undoubtedly he will get an entry but anything can happen between now and then.
Horses That Have Won The Irish & Aintree Grand Nationals
Winning either the Irish Grand National or the Aintree Grand National is a remarkable achievement for any horse, but only a select few have managed to claim victory in both of these events.
It is so rare that only five have managed it to date.
Ascetic’s Silver
Ascetic’s Silver was the first horse to win both the Irish Grand National (1904) and the Aintree Grand National (1906).
A true pioneer, Ascetic’s Silver’s ability to last the distance while maintaining speed made him a standout competitor.
It may have been nearly 120 years ago but his Aintree win in 1906 showed that horses capable of mastering the challenging fences and longer distance at Aintree (four miles and two-and-a-half furlongs) could indeed perform well across both races.
Rhyme ‘n’ Reason
Rhyme ‘n’ Reason followed in Ascetic’s Silver’s footsteps many decades later. Winning the Irish Grand National in 1985, the horse exhibited a strong jumping ability and the stamina to handle tough courses.
Rhyme ‘n’ Reason’s victory in the 1988 Aintree Grand National remains one of the most memorable in the race’s history after he famously recovered from nearly falling at Becher’s Brook.
Bobbyjo
Bobbyjo first claimed victory in the Irish Grand National in 1998, where he displayed excellent pacing and jumped consistently well.
He was trained by Tommy Carberry, a former jockey who had also won the Aintree Grand National on L’Escargot in 1975.
In 1999, Bobbyjo made history by becoming the first Irish-trained horse in 24 years to win the Aintree Grand National.
It was made even more memorable by virtue of the fact that Carberry’s son, Paul was the jockey who rode Bobbyjo to victory.
Numbersixvalverde
Numbersixvalverde claimed his first big victory by winning the Irish Grand National in 2005.
The following year, in 2006, he proved himself on the even bigger stage of Aintree, winning the Grand National there as well.
I Am Maximus
The Willie Mullins trained, and JP McManus owned, I Am Maximus is the most recent addition to this elite group, winning the Irish Grand National in 2023 before going on to claim the Aintree Grand National in 2024.
His success in both races underlines how a well-rounded horse, with a combination of agility, endurance, and a strong mental attitude, can conquer the unique challenges presented by both the Irish and Aintree Grand Nationals.
Does Winning One Race Give an Advantage in the Other?
While there is no guarantee that winning the Irish Grand National will lead to success at Aintree, the races share enough similarities in distance and obstacles that a strong performance in one may suggest the potential for success in the other.
However, each race presents unique challenges. Aintree’s fences, for example, are much more daunting, and the longer distance can test even the best horses.
Trainers who have guided horses to success in both races often cite the importance of stamina, jumping ability, and race strategy in preparing for Aintree after an Irish Grand National victory.
While only a few horses have managed to win both the Irish and Aintree Grand Nationals, those that have achieved this feat display a rare combination of stamina, jumping skill, and resilience.
The big question now is can Intense Raffles join that exclusive list in 2025?
