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Soldier In Milan dominates BOYLE Sports Irish Grand National 2026
Monday, 06 April 2026
Soldier In Milan delivered one of the best performances seen in a BOYLE Sports Irish Grand National for many years before a packed Easter Monday crowd of 18,753 at Fairyhouse.
A thoroughly dominant display by the Emmet Mullins-trained 6-1 favourite led to a 16 lengths victory from Showurappreciation in second at 10-1. The Enabler finished third at 28-1 and Argento Boy ran fourth at 16-1.
The winning margin was the biggest in Ireland’s most valuable jumps race since Our Duke won by 14 lengths in 2017.
Ridden by Donagh Meyler, this was just a fifth start over fences for Soldier In Milan and just his sixth under rules. He was a very smart bumper horse last year and owner Paul Byrne and Mullins, a pair not known for adherence to convention, opted to send the strapping seven-year-old straight over fences.
“He travelled so well up on the pace,” Meyler said.
“He jumped so sweetly. I landed in front five out. At that point I could hear Emmet giving out to me! But he’s a class horse and he just kept going.”
“Magic result. I had to pinch myself passing the stands with a lap to go with how well he was,” Mullins added.
“He was jumping and travelling so well. It was just very smooth. It’s unbelievable. I might seem calm now but it was amazing as he crossed the line. It’s huge for me and the team.”
The BOYLE Sports Irish Grand National was the climax to the three-day Fairyhouse Easter Festival. The meeting has been staged since 1870. An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin TD, was the guest of honour as is tradition.
Over the three days, a total of 34,985 enjoyed the entertainment on and off the track. Monday’s gate was 13% up on that achieved in 2025 and Sunday’s attendance saw a 9.3% rise on Family Day with a significant increase in family entertainment on a day that is growing in popularity locally.
The weekend began with the Bellinter House & Spa Powers Fairyhouse Style Day on Saturday when Dee Maddock from Straffan in Co Kildare was crowned the Most Stylish Person in attendance.
The Easter Sunday programme showcased two Grade 1 races. The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Honeysuckle Mares Novice Hurdle went to Zanoosh, trained in Co Wexford by Colm Murphy. Fleur In The Park later won the WillowWarm Gold Cup for Co Tipperary trainer Andy Slattery.
Over the weekend’s racing, horses from 14 different stables visited the winners’ enclosure.
John Sheridan, General Manager of Fairyhouse, said: “This has been a phenomenal weekend of racing with a modern-day record attendance over the three days. Today's BOYLE Sports Irish Grand National saw an incredible winner in Soldier In Milan.
“I am incredibly proud of the team and all the effort that has been put into this Festival. The learnings were taken from last year in terms of customer experience improvements and I'm thrilled to see this result.”
After racing on Monday and throughout the entire weekend, there were numerous local bands playing such as The Sandmen, Ten Strings Music, Out On Bale and The Wingmen, all of whom were well received by patrons in addition to one of Ireland’s most popular bands, The Highstool Prophets, lighting up the stage on Saturday and Wolfhound on the Sunday.
On Monday there was also a parade of retired racehorses arranged by Treo Eile, the body which retrains Ireland’s racehorses. The parade featured General Principle, winner of the BOYLE Sports Irish Grand National in 2018, now aged 17 and a star of the showing classes, including at the RDS Dublin Horse Show.
A thoroughly dominant display by the Emmet Mullins-trained 6-1 favourite led to a 16 lengths victory from Showurappreciation in second at 10-1. The Enabler finished third at 28-1 and Argento Boy ran fourth at 16-1.
The winning margin was the biggest in Ireland’s most valuable jumps race since Our Duke won by 14 lengths in 2017.
Ridden by Donagh Meyler, this was just a fifth start over fences for Soldier In Milan and just his sixth under rules. He was a very smart bumper horse last year and owner Paul Byrne and Mullins, a pair not known for adherence to convention, opted to send the strapping seven-year-old straight over fences.
“He travelled so well up on the pace,” Meyler said.
“He jumped so sweetly. I landed in front five out. At that point I could hear Emmet giving out to me! But he’s a class horse and he just kept going.”
“Magic result. I had to pinch myself passing the stands with a lap to go with how well he was,” Mullins added.
“He was jumping and travelling so well. It was just very smooth. It’s unbelievable. I might seem calm now but it was amazing as he crossed the line. It’s huge for me and the team.”
The BOYLE Sports Irish Grand National was the climax to the three-day Fairyhouse Easter Festival. The meeting has been staged since 1870. An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin TD, was the guest of honour as is tradition.
Over the three days, a total of 34,985 enjoyed the entertainment on and off the track. Monday’s gate was 13% up on that achieved in 2025 and Sunday’s attendance saw a 9.3% rise on Family Day with a significant increase in family entertainment on a day that is growing in popularity locally.
The weekend began with the Bellinter House & Spa Powers Fairyhouse Style Day on Saturday when Dee Maddock from Straffan in Co Kildare was crowned the Most Stylish Person in attendance.
The Easter Sunday programme showcased two Grade 1 races. The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Honeysuckle Mares Novice Hurdle went to Zanoosh, trained in Co Wexford by Colm Murphy. Fleur In The Park later won the WillowWarm Gold Cup for Co Tipperary trainer Andy Slattery.
Over the weekend’s racing, horses from 14 different stables visited the winners’ enclosure.
John Sheridan, General Manager of Fairyhouse, said: “This has been a phenomenal weekend of racing with a modern-day record attendance over the three days. Today's BOYLE Sports Irish Grand National saw an incredible winner in Soldier In Milan.
“I am incredibly proud of the team and all the effort that has been put into this Festival. The learnings were taken from last year in terms of customer experience improvements and I'm thrilled to see this result.”
After racing on Monday and throughout the entire weekend, there were numerous local bands playing such as The Sandmen, Ten Strings Music, Out On Bale and The Wingmen, all of whom were well received by patrons in addition to one of Ireland’s most popular bands, The Highstool Prophets, lighting up the stage on Saturday and Wolfhound on the Sunday.
On Monday there was also a parade of retired racehorses arranged by Treo Eile, the body which retrains Ireland’s racehorses. The parade featured General Principle, winner of the BOYLE Sports Irish Grand National in 2018, now aged 17 and a star of the showing classes, including at the RDS Dublin Horse Show.