No National joy for locals at Fairyhouse

Check out where your pick finished in the Irish Grand National

Fergal Lynch

Published: Mon 6 Apr 2026, 5:43 PM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2026, 5:48 PM

There was no joy for local connections as the horses flashed past the winning post in today's Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse with Emmet Mullins' 6/1 favourite Soldier In Milan proving to be a hugely popular winner of the €500,000 feature of the Easter festival.

Willie Mullins' Kiss Will looked to be cruising before coming down at the second last, but even if Paul Townend's mount had stayed on his feet it is doubtful he would have got the better of the hugely impressive Donagh Meyler ridden winner.

Jockey Donagh Meyler celebrates after winning the Irish Grand National on Soldier In Milan at Fairyhouse. **Photo: Seb Daly/Sportsfile** Photo by Seb Daly / SPORTSFILE

There was some consolation for Gordon Elliott as his 28/1 chance The Enabler produced a great race to take third and €50,000 in prizemoney under a fine ride from Danny Gilligan.

The quickening ground proved too hot for Bective Stud's fancied Better Days Ahead who finished just over 42 lengths behind the winner in sixth, dead-heated alongside One Big Bang.

Donagh Meyler onboard Soldier In Milan leaves Showurappreciation and The enabler trailing in his wake. Photo: INPHO/Tom Maher Photo by ©INPHO/Tom Maher

There were only 10 finishers in the race with Gavin Cromwell's Born Braver, under Eoghan Finnegan, was the last horse past the post as 20 others didn't make it there.

FINAL FINISHING PLACES

1 - Soldier in Milan (6/1); 2, Showurappreciation (10/1); 3, The Enabler (28/1); 4, Argento Boy (16/1); 5, Monbeg Genius (25/1); 6, Better Days Ahead (11/1); 6, One Big Bang (16/1); 8, C'est Ta Chance (20/1); 9, Goraibhmaithagat (12/1); 10, Born Braver (28/1); fell - Western Walk (33/1), Kiss Will (13/2); Pulled Up - Velvet Elvis (125/1), Duffle Coat (80/1), O'Toole (33/1), Hartur d'Arc (125/1), Better Times Ahead (25/1), Weveallbeencaught (40/1), Yeah Man (66/1), Shanbally Kid (40/1), Sa Majeste (50/1), Secouldbeanything (25/1), Search For Glory (22/1), Joystick (28/1), Flicker Of hope (18/1), Waterford Whispers (18/1), Karia Des Blaises (25/1), The Jukebox Kid (8/1), Kurasso Blue (33/1); unseated rider - Rushmount (50/1)