The Boylesports Irish Grand National is just days away, with thousands of punters set to descend on Fairyhouse for their Easter Festival.
Willie Mullins is aiming to win the race for the third time since 2019 after another very successful Cheltenham Festival for the champion trainer.
Nick Rockett has rocketed to the top of the market for the 3m5f contest as Mullins and Paul Townend aim to make it back-to-back wins in the race after I Am Maximus' victory last April.
Meanwhile, local trainer Dermot McLoughlin, who won the race in 2021 and 2022, believes Digby could run a big race at big odds this year.
Among the other fancied runners for the 2024 edition are the Tom Gibney-trained Intense Raffles, Desertmore House for Martin Brassil and the Gavin Cromwell-trained pair of Hartur D’arc and Yeah Man, while there has also been support for Any Second Now, who is trained by Ted Walsh.
Here's what you need to know about the race:
When is it?
The 2024 Irish Grand National takes place on Easter Monday, April 1.
Where does it take place?
Fairyhouse Racecourse in Co Meath will stage the race.
What time is the race?
The Irish Grand National is scheduled to start at 5pm.
What TV channel is it on?
RTE Two will show the action live from 2.30pm, with UTV/ITV also showing racing live on Easter Monday from 2.15pm.
Can I watch it online?
The action can be streamed via the RTE Player in Ireland and with ITVX in the UK.
Confirmed runners and riders
Minella Cocooner Danny Mullins
Churchstonewarrior Michael O'Sullivan
Nick Rockett Paul Townend
Favori De Champdou Danny Gilligan
Senior Chief Rachael Blackmore
Any Second Now Mark Walsh
Intense Raffles JJ Slevin
Yeah Man Keith Donoghue
Diol Ker Kieren Buckley
Dunboyne Sam Ewing
Hartur D'Arc Sean Flanagan
Frontal Assault Carl Millar
Where It All Began Jack Kennedy
Cool Survivor Jordan Gainford
Good Time Jonny Phillip Enright
Street Value Darragh O'Keeffe
Daily Present Sean O'Keefe
Royal Thief Kevin Sexton
We'llhavewan Kieran Callaghan
Where's Frankie Donagh Meyler
History Of Fashion Richard Condon
Betting odds
4/1 Nick Rockett
6/1 Intense Raffles
8/1 Hartur D’arc
10/1 Yeah Man
12/1 Any Second Now
12/1 Senior Chief
14/1 We’llhavewan
16/1 Favori De Champdou
16/1 Good Time Jonny
16/1 Where It All Began
16/1 Where’s Frankie
20/1 Daily Present
25/1 Churchstonewarrior
25/1 Frontal Assault
25/1 Minella Cocooner
25/1 Street Value
33/1 Dunboyne
40/1 Cool Survivor
50/1 Diol Ker
50/1 History Of Fashion
66/1 Royal Thief
Weather forecast for Leinster from Met Eireann
Thursday
Cold this morning with outbreaks of rain in the north and northeast, falling as sleet or snow in places. A drier start further south but a spell of rain will develop here this afternoon, turning heavy at times. It will turn drier over the northern half of the province during the afternoon. Highest temperatures of 7 to 9 degrees with light to moderate easterly winds becoming northerly.
Tonight
Rain along the east coast will clear early tonight and it will turn dry with long clear spells for a time. Scattered showers will spread from the southwest later in the night. Cold with lowest temperatures of -1 to +2 degrees and some frost and ice forming in light southeasterly or variable winds.
Friday
A good deal of dry weather tomorrow morning with sunny spells and isolated showers. More frequent and widespread showers will develop in the afternoon, some turning heavy with hail possible and the chance of isolated thunderstorms. Highest temperatures of 9 to 11 degrees in light to moderate southerly winds.
National Outlook
Overview: Unsettled for the Easter weekend but turning slightly milder with daytime temperatures in the low to mid-teens.
Friday night: A good deal of dry weather with clear spells and isolated showers. More frequent showers will develop in the west and southwest towards dawn. A touch of frost is possible with lowest temperatures of 0 to 4 degrees in light southerly winds.
Saturday: A largely dry start with sunny spells but blustery showers will spread northeastwards across the country during the morning and afternoon, some turning heavy with hail. Highest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees in moderate to fresh southerly winds.
Saturday night: Showers will clear to the north early in the night and it will briefly turn drier. However, further showers or longer spells of rain will develop in the south and east by morning. Lowest temperatures of 3 to 7 degrees in light to moderate southeasterly winds.
Sunday: Quite cloudy with continued showers, turning heavy in some places. Milder with highest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees in light to moderate southeasterly winds.
Monday: Current indications suggest that Monday will be a dull day with outbreaks of rain. Highest temperatures of 9 to 14 degrees in moderate easterly winds.
Tip
With the ground set to be heavy at Fairyhouse, Yeah Man could run a huge race for local trainer Gavin Cromwell.
The seven-year-old won a Grand National Trial at Haydock back in February on heavy going so he will definitely handle conditions on Easter Monday, and that definitely won't be the case for some of the runners.
Cromwell has been having a great season to date, landing a number of big pots in the UK, including the Kim Muir Handicap Chase with Inothewayurthinkin and the Mares' Chase with Limerick Lace at the Cheltenham Festival.
Sign up to our horse racing newsletter here to get news direct to your inbox.
