Irish racing has received a major boost with the announcement that next year’s Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National which takes place at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday, March 28, will be worth €250,000 and become Ireland’s richest jumps race.

The feature race of the Fairyhouse Easter Festival was worth €180,000 when Ferdy Murphy’s Granit D’Estruval obliged last season and this significant rise in prizemoney for the 3m5f contest from sponsors Irish Distillers Ltd and Horse Racing Ireland represents a near 40% increase.

Dick Sheil, Fairyhouse General Manager, said: ‘The Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National is without doubt the highlight of the year at Fairyhouse and this prize fund injection is bound to increase the profile of the race even further. We greatly appreciate the support of Irish Distillers and HRI for their continued support of this historic race.’

Brian Kavanagh, CEO of HRI, said: ‘The development by Fairyhouse of their Easter Festival in conjunction with Irish Distillers has been one of the great success stories of Irish racing. The Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National is the centrepiece of the National Hunt season and their increase in race value is wholly appropriate’.

Noel O’Brien, Irish NH Handicapper, said: ‘With this latest increase in prizemoney you could well see a Gold Cup type horse being aimed at the race and it’s entirely possible we could even see horses from France coming over for what will be without doubt one of the major jump races in England and Ireland or anywhere else next year.’

David Haworth, Home Trade Director, Irish Distillers, said ‘We are delighted to affirm our commitment to National Hunt Racing and Fairyhouse Racecourse by this increased investment in the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National, making it the most valuable steeplechase in Ireland’

Further details contact

Dick Sheil, Fairyhouse: 01-8256167
Deirdre Farrell, Irish Distillers: Ltd: 01-8072281