Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

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

Foxy Jacks won the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase on his penultimate start

Foxy Jacks has Morris dreaming of more National glory

Mouse Morris has already been fortunate enough to win the Randox Grand National once with Rule The World in 2016. But that will not stop him dreaming of winning it again with Foxy Jacks.

Racing • 05 Apr 24

Gavin Cromwell went close to a first win in the Grand National last season

Cromwell aiming three runners at Grand National

Last year's runner-up Vanillier and Cheltenham Festival heroine Limerick Lace could be joined by Malina Girl to form a three-pronged assault on the Randox Grand National for trainer Gavin Cromwell.

Racing • 03 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Monbeg Genius one of 17 entries withdrawn from National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

Shakem Up'Arry gave Harry Redknapp his most memorable afternoon as an owner at last week's Cheltenham Festival

Pauling maps out plans for Redknapp runners

Harry Redknapp's Cheltenham Festival hero Shakem Up'Arry has a date with Aintree's Grand National fences on the agenda – but time will tell whether he lines up for the big race itself or the Randox Topham Handicap Chase 24 hours earlier.

Racing • 21 Mar 24

Hewick's lack of size and scope goes some way to explaining how Shark Hanlon picked him up for just €850 at Goresbridge's October sale in 2017

Hewick heads for Bowl as Hanlon opts to skip National

Top-weight Hewick has been officially scratched from the Randox Grand National, with trainer Shark Hanlon instead targeting the Aintree Bowl two days earlier.

Racing • 21 Mar 24

Adamantly Chosen is one of 10 Willie Mullins-trained horses still entered in the Grand National

Adamantly Chosen a decisive winner at Down Royal

Adamantly Chosen may have bumped himself up a few Grand National shortlists with a decisive victory at Down Royal.

Racing • 17 Mar 24

Runners and riders ahead of last year's race

Record 61 Irish entries for Aintree Grand National

Irish trainers are responsible for a record 61 entries of the total 94 received for this year's Randox Grand National – with the Aintree spectacular also having a new start time of 4pm this year.

Racing • 06 Feb 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

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

'This created a really weird atmosphere in Aintree on Saturday'

Walsh: Grand National delay created 'tension'

Ruby Walsh said the protests which delayed the start of this year's Aintree Grand National created a great deal of 'tension' at the race-track, which may have contributed to horses getting more 'excited' than they might have otherwise.

Racing • 17 Apr 23

Jockey Derek Fox rides Corach Rambler (R) on the run-in

Favourite Corach Rambler wins Aintree Grand National

Favourite Corach Rambler, ridden by Derek Fox, stormed to victory in a Grand National briefly delayed by animal rights protesters at Aintree.

Racing • 15 Apr 23

The 175th annual running of the Grand National takes place at Aintree at 5.15pm

Grand National tips and preview

Will Irish trainers' recent dominance of the world's most famous steeplechase continue on Merseyside? We've a 12-1 selection for the Aintree spectacular at 5.15pm and a 10-1 recommendation for one of the supporting races on the card.

Racing • 15 Apr 23

Rachael Blackmore landed the National in 2021 on Minella Times

Punters pile into Blackmore's Grand National mount

Punters are backing Rachael Blackmore to land a second Randox Grand National, with her mount Ain't That A Shame rocketing to the top echelons of the market for Saturday's Aintree showpiece.

Racing • 14 Apr 23

Corach Rambler will go in the Grand National at Aintree

Corach Rambler heads 40-strong Grand National field

Ante-post favourite Corach Rambler heads a full field of 40 for Saturday's Randox Grand National at Aintree.

Racing • 13 Apr 23

Davy Russell returned for Cheltenham but it proved a disappointing week

Elliott offers Russell final ride on Galvin in National

Gordon Elliott would love to give Davy Russell the chance of a fitting finale to his career at Aintree, with the ride on Galvin in the Randox Grand National reserved for the veteran jockey should he opt to take it.

Racing • 05 Apr 23

A field of 40 will go to post for the Aintree feature at 5.15pm on Saturday, 15 April

Grand National has an increasingly Irish feel

A total of 57 horses remain in the reckoning for the Randox Grand National at Aintree on 15 April after Tuesday's latest acceptance stage, with Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott responsible for more of the potential runners than their British-based training peers.

Racing • 28 Mar 23

Any Second Now shares top-weight with Conflated and Hewick

Grand National: Walsh 'shocked' as weights are revealed

Trainer Ted Walsh was left "absolutely shocked" after Any Second Now was given joint top-weight for this year's Randox Grand National.

Racing • 21 Feb 23

Minella Times won four of his 24 starts under Rules

Minella Times retires after injury setback

Rachael Blackmore acknowledged her life-changing Grand National success on Minella Times after the 2021 winner was retired through injury.

Racing • 21 Feb 23

BHA are silent on claims that they are poised to amend the whip rule

BHA silent on reports on whip rule disqualification

The British Horseracing Authority declined to comment on reports it will consider disqualifying horses whose riders seriously breach whip rules in major races.

Racing • 07 Jul 22

Gordon Elliott celebrates his 2,000th career win

Gordon Elliott celebrated the landmark of 2,000 career winners in Ireland and Britain after Ted Hastings claimed a runaway victory at Ayr.

Racing • 03 May 22

Eclair Surf was one of two fatalities in the National

Eclair Surf euthanised after Grand National injury

Emma Lavelle was left heartbroken after Eclair Surf died on Sunday morning as a result of injuries suffered in his fall in Saturday's Randox Grand National.

Racing • 10 Apr 22