Irish jockeys and Irish-bred horses have always enjoyed considerable success at Aintree, and there have been 25 winners of the race trained in Ireland since the first Grand National back in 1839.
In 1920, the giant (17 hands) Troytown made his first and last appearance at the National wining by a comfortable 12 lengths, and 19 years later Workman, the first Irish-bred and trained winner of the Grand National since Troytown ,ridden by former champion show jumper Tim Hyde, won in 1939, beating Macmoffat by 3 lengths.
Caughoo won in 1947 despite his 100/1 odds, beating 56 other horses and the fog. Between 1953 and 1955, the Grand National belonged to trainer Vincent O’Brien ‘the Master of Ballydoyle’ who won with Early Mist in 1953, Royal Tan in 1954 and Quare Times in 1955. Jockey of L’Escargot Tommy Carberry trained 1999 Irish and English National winner Bobbyjo, who was ridden by Tommy’s son Paul. The father-son combo quickly caught on and in 2000 Papillon won, with Ted Walsh training and son Ruby riding his first National.
Hedgehunter was a runner up in 2006 behind Irish-trained Numbersixvalverde, Martin Brassil’s first runner in the National.
