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The Irish Grand National has b...

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The Irish Grand National has been scrapped for 2020


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Organisers have confirmed that this plans to stage this year's BoyleSports Irish Grand National in the Autumn have now been scrapped and the race won't be run in 2020.

Fairyhouse had been due to host the blue ribband event on the 13th of April but it was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Horse Racing Ireland had hoped to reschedule in their expanded National Hunt schedule later this year but they've accepted defeat in their bid to stage the race this year.

The decision not to run the BoyleSports Irish Grand National was made to give owners and trainers as much notice as possible," said HRI racing director Jason Morris of the decision.

"It also allows connections firm up their plans for the winter with some certainty.

"We feel it is appropriate to increase our support to two complementary staying handicap chases in November, and so the Ladbrokes Troytown Chase at Navan on November 8 and the Bar One Portertown Handicap Chase at Faiyhouse the week after, will both become races worth €125,000."

Fairyhouse's Peter Roe says it would have been a shame to have a Grand National without supporters in attendance:

“The Irish Grand National is known by many as the ‘People’s Race’ so to stage the race at Fairyhouse without that huge community of locals and racing fans, just wouldn’t feel the same.

“I know that the race will return as big as ever in 2021 and would like to sincerely thank BoyleSports for their loyal support of the race.

“I’m delighted to see that the Bar One Porterstown Handicap Chase, which features on an incredible day’s racing here on November 29, with three Grade Ones alongside it, will benefit from a prize-money boost.”


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