Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Jonbon and El Fabiolo set for Melling Chase clash

Jonbon will face just three rivals, among them El Fabiolo, when he defends his My Pension Expert Melling Chase at Aintree on Friday.

Racing • 02 Apr

Nico de Boinville riding Constitution Hill (L) clear the last to win the Christmas Hurdle from Paul Townend and Lossiemouth

Constitution Hill and Lossiemouth have Aintree date

Constitution Hill will clash with Cheltenham Festival heroine Lossiemouth in the William Hill Aintree Hurdle on Thursday.

Racing • 01 Apr

Nico de Boinville and Jonbon had a comfortable victory on Merseyside 12 months ago

Jonbon among Melling Chase contenders as he eyes repeat

Jonbon will face a maximum of eight rivals when he seeks to defend his My Pension Expert Melling Chase title at Aintree next Friday.

Racing • 29 Mar

Lossiemouth and Paul Townend on their way to winning the Mares' Hurdle at Prestbury Park

Lossiemouth and Constitution Hill may clash at Aintree

A blockbuster clash could be in store on the opening day of the Grand National meeting, with Constitution Hill, Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead all entered for the William Hill Aintree Hurdle.

Racing • 28 Mar

Gavin Sheehan riding Hewick to victory in the 2023 King George VI Chase

Sheehan excited for Grand National Hewick reunion

Gavin Sheehan is relishing being reunited with "little warrior" Hewick after answering the call to partner John 'Shark' Hanlon's pint-sized hero in the Randox Grand National.

Racing • 26 Mar

Intense Raffles and Iroko are vying for favouritism in the National, with the former coming out on top when the two horses met once before at Auteuil in 2021

Gibney hopes Intense Raffles' luck is in for National

Trainer Tom Gibney is doing his best to keep his feet on the ground as he puts the finishing touches to his Randox Grand National hope Intense Raffles.

Racing • 25 Mar

Jockey Nico de Boinville aboard Jonbon after the pair came home second in the hurdling highlight

Aintree's Melling Chase now the target for Jonbon

Nicky Henderson expects to run Jonbon next at Aintree after his Cheltenham Festival defeat.

Racing • 15 Mar

Connections of Intense Raffles seem intent on preserving the Irish Grand National winner's chase mark for the time being

Intense Raffles to remain over hurdles at Navan

Intense Raffles is likely to be seen over hurdles at Navan next week, as connections continue to plot their course to the Randox Grand National in the spring.

Racing • 09 Jan

The four-day Leopardstown Christmas Festival gets under way in the capital this afternoon

Festive fancies for St Stephen's Day

A hectic period in the racing calendar explodes into life later today. We've recommendations for Leopardstown, Kempton, Down Royal and Aintree.

Racing • 26 Dec 24

Racegoers might need a firm grip on their umbrellas at Aintree

Storm Darragh to prompt inspections at Aintree/Sandown

Sandown's Betfair Tingle Creek Chase meeting and the Boylesports Becher Chase fixture at Aintree on Saturday must pass precautionary inspections due to the threat of high winds from Storm Darragh.

Racing • 06 Dec 24

Paul Townend celebrates his victory on I Am Maximus in last season's Irish Grand National

Grand National: Preview and tips for Aintree's big race

The Grand National takes place at Aintree on Saturday afternoon and RTÉ Sport's Barry McEneaney has two tips for the world's most famous steeplechase.

Racing • 15 Apr 24

Mark Walsh and Inothewayurthinkin clear the last en route to victory

Inothewayurthinkin takes Mildmay spoils for Cromwell

Inothewayurthinkin produced a Cheltenham Festival repeat to announce himself as a staying chaser of the highest order with victory in the Huyton Asphalt Franny Blennerhassett Memorial Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree.

Racing • 12 Apr 24

Gerri Colombe (left) stayed on well to see off Ahoy Senor

Gerri Colombe shows mettle to land Aintree Bowl

Gerri Colombe battled to victory to take the William Hill Bowl Chase at Aintree.

Racing • 11 Apr 24

Corbetts Cross and Derek O'Connor winning at Cheltenham

Aintree Day 1: Corbetts Cross to test Shiskin and Gerri

Emmet Mullins' Corbetts Cross is bidding for an Cheltenham-Aintree double as he prepares to contest the William Hill Bowl Chase on the opening day of the Grand National meeting on Thursday.

Racing • 11 Apr 24

Hewick is a four-time winner from 21 starts over timber

Hewick could revert to hurdles at Aintree

King George hero Hewick has emerged as a surprise contender for the JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle, with trainer Shark Hanlon keen to keep options open with conditions at Aintree currently testing ahead of the three-day Grand National meeting.

Racing • 08 Apr 24

The Grand National field has been reduced to a maximum 34 runners this year

Grand National: 51 confirmed at five-day stage

Ground conditions will be the deciding factor in whether top-weight Conflated will line up in the Randox Grand National at Aintree on Saturday – with the weather pointing towards Delta Work as the number one contender for Gordon Elliott and Gigginstown House Stud.

Racing • 08 Apr 24

Mahler Mission (near side) finished second to the pictured Datsalrightgino in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury on his last start

Mission brings McConnell to world's most famous chase

Mahler Mission could make John McConnell's dreams come true when the trainer ends his long wait to saddle a Randox Grand National runner at Aintree.

Racing • 05 Apr 24

Gerri Colombe found only Galopin Des Champs too good in the Cheltenham Gold Cup

Gerri Colombe and Hewick among Aintree Bowl entries

Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Gerri Colombe and Festival absentees Hewick and Shishkin are among 12 entries for the Aintree Bowl on the opening afternoon of the Grand National meeting on Thursday.

Racing • 05 Apr 24

Corach Rambler's Grand National triumph last season was achieved on ground officially described as good to soft (soft in places)

Russell would rather drier conditions for Rambler

Lucinda Russell is hoping for a break in the wet weather ahead of Corach Rambler's bid for back-to-back victories in the Randox Grand National at Aintree on Saturday week.

Racing • 03 Apr 24

Monbeg Genius ran poorly at Kelso and Cheltenham on his two most recent outings

Monbeg Genius one of 17 entries withdrawn from National

Monbeg Genius, previously strongly fancied for Randox Grand National glory, has been scratched from the race at the latest confirmation stage.

Racing • 26 Mar 24

Flooring Porter will be back over the smaller obstacles at Aintree on 13 April

Porter will go again in pursuit of Liverpool Hurdle

Flooring Porter will attempt to finally get his hands on the Jrl Group Liverpool Hurdle following his brave second in the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Racing • 22 Mar 24

Coko Beach and Danny Gilligan jumping the last to win the Troytown

Coko Beach back at Aintree for Becher assignment

Gordon Elliott's Coko Beach will bid to maintain his recent good form in the Boylesports Becher Handicap Chase at Aintree on Saturday.

Racing • 08 Dec 23

A Plus Tard going to post for the Gold Cup in March

De Bromhead's A Plus Tard likely to skip Betfair Chase

A Plus Tard is "odds against" to bid for a second win in the Betfair Chase at Haydock later this month, according to Cheveley Park Stud director Richard Thompson.

Racing • 09 Nov 23

From next year a reduced field will line up for the famous race

Aintree National field cut to 34 as part of safety move

Next year's Randox Grand National will have a maximum of 34 runners after the field size was reduced as part of new safety measures.

Racing • 12 Oct 23

Corach Rambler en-route to victory at Aintree

Recap: Corach Rambler wins 2023 Grand National

After protestors delayed the start, it was Corach Rambler who was crowned champion.

Racing • 15 Apr 23