Willie Mullins Reveals His Best Irish Grand National Hope Ahead Of Fairyhouse Easter Monday Race

Willie Mullins is on a ‘National Charge’ have scooped the Aintree and Scottish versions already this month – and will be hoping to add Ireland’s marathon race on Easter Monday at Fairyhouse. With that in mind we look at the possible Willie Mullins Irish Grand National runners ahead of the 2025 renewal, with the Closutton handler expected to whittle his final entries down to just two (maybe three) – but he’s also lifted the lid on which of his runners he thinks has the BEST CHANCE.

Willie Mullins Expected To Have Only Two Irish Grand National Runners In 2025

Having had many entries for the 2025 Irish Grand National, Willie Mullins is likely to narrow down his hunt for a third big National in April to just two (maybe three).

Mullins is also locked in a British trainers’ title battle with Dan Skelton – having closed the gap significantly in April – so his team, that includes entry man David Casey, are working overtime on both sides of the Irish Sea at the moment.

However, on the home front the Irish Grand National is the best big target – which is run on Easter Monday at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival – as Mullins eyes the €270k first prize.

After speaking recently Casey has hinted the Mullins entries will be whittled down to just two runners – High Class Hero and Sa Majeste – but saying there is a chance recent Aintree faller Quai De Bourbon might also be involved here or at Sandown the following weekend.

Mullins and Team Expecting ‘High Class’ To Be A Fairyhouse ‘Hero’ On Easter Monday

And of that duo (trio), it’s HIGH CLASS HERO that the Closutton camp have highlighted as the main pick of their Willie Mullins Irish Grand National runners

Casey went on record recently saying “The way the season has gone, a few of our biggest bullets will have been fired at Ayr and Aintree. So numerically we might not be as well stocked as we have been in other years. But we have a few nice horses going in there.

“The maximum we will have at the moment is maybe two or three. High Class Hero will definitely run, as will Sa Majeste. Quai de Bourbon could also despite falling at Aintree, but it may be better to wait another week for Sandown.

“High Class Hero and Sa Majeste will be the standouts. And I have to go with High Class Hero as our best chance.

“The trip will not be an issue. We have had really dry weather but that won’t be an issue for him either. He is only a novice, but he has plenty of experience from point to pointing as well.

“He is a pretty good jumper. A lot of the top weights will come out, so he will carry a lot of weight. That could be a negative, but he’ll be the top one of ours.”

WATCH: High Class Hero Winning At Punchestown In February

High Class Hero 🟥

Some of his jumping was a bit sticky but the warm favourite gets the job done in relatively straightforward fashion. @PTownend | @punchestownrace pic.twitter.com/nyKWv19rJ1

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 20, 2025

High Class Hero Fancied In The Betting Behind Cheltenham Winner Haiti Couleurs 

The 8 year-old High Class Hero has only had three runs over fences, winning once, so there should be more to come. But has won four times (from six) over hurdles and even though the furthest he’s gone is 3m to date, looks the sort that could improve again with the step up in trip.

Those against him will notice he was beaten at 2/13 in a G3 Chase at Thurles last out.

Despite this it’s still no shock that High Class Hero has since been installed as one of the market leaders with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK – at around 8/1.

And with the Mullins factor sure to kick in on the day – he could go off even shorter. After all he’s been favourite in all three of his runs over fences to date.

With the NH Chase winner at the Cheltenham Festival Haiti Couleurs the current favourite with most layers.

As Jay from the Inbetweeners would say.

High Class Hero Horse Profile

Sa Majeste Will Be Another Willie Mullins Irish Grand National Runner

The only other confirmed Willie Mullins Irish Grand National runner for 2025 will be the JP McManus-owned SA MAJESTE.

This 7 year-old will be looking to give his connections another big payday in the race – having won the 2023 running with I Am Maximus, who went into land the Aintree Grand National the following year.

Sa Majeste was last seen running a fine third in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival (watch below) – plus has won twice from his five runs over fences.

On a plus, he was also a course winner here at Fairyhouse over fences – when winning over 3m 1/2 back in February.

WATCH: Sa Majeste Running Third In The 2025 Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival 

How Many Times Has Willie Mullins Won The Irish Grand National?

Willie Mullins has won the Irish Grand National twice.

The first of these wins came back in 2019 with the 6 year-old Burrows Saint, who was ridden by Ruby Walsh and owned by Rich Ricci.

This win gave Walsh his final Irish Grand National win and his third in total having won the prize with Commanche Court (2000) and Numersixvalverde (2005).

The second Irish Grand National win for Willie Mullins came in 2023 when I Am Maximus stormed home (watch below). He, of course, later went onto land the Aintree Grand National in 2024.

Mullins’ two wins in the race see him trail way behind trainer Tom Dreaper, who is the winning-most handler in the race with a remarkable ten successes.

WATCH: I Am Maximus Winning The 2023 Irish Grand National – Giving Willie Mullins His Second Win In The Race

2025 Irish Grand National Race Details

📅Date: Monday 21st April 2025
⌚Time: 5:00pm
🏇Racecourse: Fairyhouse
🔄Trip: 3m 5f
💷Winner: €270,000
📺 TV: ITV4 / RTE

Irish Grand National Winners (Last 10 Runnings)

WATCH: INTENSE RAFFLES Winning The Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse in 2024