Fairyhouse betting with William Hill

Fairyhouse is one of the premier racecourses in Ireland and home to one of the biggest races in the Irish National Hunt season, the Irish Grand National, which takes place at the County Meath track’s famous Easter Festival meeting in April.

Fairyhouse is a dual-purpose track, so stages racing all year round, but the Easter Festival meeting is undoubtedly the highlight of the venue’s winter entertainment.

The three-day festival features two Grade 1 events on the opening Sunday – the Powers Gold Cup and the Mares’ Novice Hurdle Championship Final.

These come before the Irish Grand National, worth €500,000 in prize money in 2018 and the star attraction on Bank Holiday Monday.

William Hill’s Fairyhouse betting section contains Irish Grand National odds well in advance of the contest.

Located 23km north of Dublin, racing has been taking place at Fairyhouse since 1848 and has played host to some of the biggest names ever to grace the sport, including the likes of Desert Orchid and Persian War.

Fairyhouse is a right-handed track with a 3f uphill straight and there are around 20 meetings staged there each year.

Fairyhouse betting – the big meetings/races

The Irish Grand National is the big race of the season in Ireland, not just at Fairyhouse, and is the focal point of the Easter Festival.

The prestigious 3m5f handicap chase is always a huge betting event and William Hill’s biggest Fairyhouse betting contest of the year.

The Irish National isn’t the only big race at the Easter Festival though, because there are a pair of Grade 1 contests on the opening day of the three-day festival.

The Ryanair Gold Cup is one of the biggest races for novices in the Irish jumps calendar and is often won by a horse who goes on to be a major contender in races like the Cheltenham Gold Cup the following season.

The Mares’ Novice Hurdle Championship is a Grade 1 2m4f event that has been won by great hurdlers like Annie Power. It’s a race that Willie Mullins has dominated in recent years and his contenders often dominate William Hill’s Fairyhouse betting.

There are also three Grade 1 races at the Fairyhouse December Hatton’s Grace Festival – the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle, the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle and the Drinmore Novice Chase, all of which are hugely important races in the Irish jumps season.

The 2m4f Hatton’s Grace Hurdle always goes the way of Ireland’s best hurdlers and has been won by greats like Istabraq, Brave Inca and Hurricane Fly.

The only Group race staged during the summer at Fairyhouse is the Group 3 Brownstown Stakes in July, a 7f event for fillies and mares aged three and older. It’s a race that both Jim Bolger and Dermot Weld have excelled in.

Fairyhouse odds – impact on ante-post betting for future races

The Hatton’s Grace Hurdle is always won by a horse capable of winning the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and that great double has been achieved by some of the legendary Irish hurdlers, such as three-time Champion Hurdler Istabraq.

The Hatton’s Grace winner may be won by a horse who stays further, in which case Cheltenham’s Stayers’ Hurdle would be a more realistic target. Doran’s Pride completed that particular double in 1995.

The Royal Bond Novice Hurdle is one of the key novice events of the season in Ireland and is a major pointer to the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, although Royal Bond winners like Hardy Eustace were able to step up in trip and win the 2m5f novices’ hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, now known as the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle.

The Drinmore Novices’ Chase is a race that has major ramifications on the RSA Chase market. 2018 Drinmore winner Delta Work was sent off favourite for the RSA Chase later that season, but could finish only third behind Topofthegame.

The Irish Grand National is a tough race for Fairyhouse betting punters but it can throw up a horse capable of making a splash in the Grand National at Aintree the following season. If the winner is classy and progressive enough, races like the Cheltenham Gold Cup could also be on the agenda.

Fairyhouse course characteristics

Fairyhouse is a right-handed galloping square-shaped circuit of a 1m6f, with an uphill home straight of around 3f. There is a steady climb on the side away from the stands before a slight descent in the back straight.

It’s generally considered a fair track that suits horses that have the tactical speed to hold an early position before the home turn.

In Flat sprint races, the field tend to congregate on the stands’ rail, which often means congestion and trouble in-running for some of the hold-up horses. That needs taking into consideration when assessing William Hill’s Fairyhouse betting.

In races over 1m4f, a low draw is a distinct advantage because the field only travel just over a furlong before they hit a sharp right-handed turn. So any horse trapped wide is at a major disadvantage.

There are two fences in quite quick succession in the home straight, so it’s crucial to meet them on a stride because there isn’t enough time after the last to recover if momentum is lost.

Horses who excel on right-handed circuits need close attention in the Fairyhouse betting, especially ones that have already been successful at the County Meath track.

Fairyhouse betting tips

Gordon Elliott is a trainer to be feared at Fairyhouse and success in the 2018 Irish Grand National with General Principle contributed €270,000 to Elliott’s prize money earnings at Fairyhouse.

Elliott has a particularly good strike-rate with his bumper runners at the track.

Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh have a formidable record when they team up at Fairyhouse, as do Ger Lyons and Colin Keane in Flat races through the summer.

Jonjo O’Neill is a British trainer to fear when he sends raiders over the Irish Sea and O’Neill has twice won the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse, on both occasions with runners owned by John P McManus.

Jessica Harrington and Robbie Power were the toast of Fairyhouse when they teamed up to win the 2017 Irish Grand National with 9/2 favourite Our Duke, one of very few Fairyhouse betting market leaders to land the feature race.

Check news.williamhill.com for Fairyhouse tips, full race previews and the latest odds and market movers.

Fairyhouse racecourse – how to get there

Fairyhouse is located 23km north of Dublin in County Meath and is easily accessible by car. If you are travelling from Dublin, take the N3 towards Navan, proceed onto the M3 and take Exit 5 for Ratoath/Fairyhouse. Take a right hand turn onto the R155 and Fairyhouse Racecourse is located on the right.

There is ample free parking at the course.

There are regular trains from Fairyhouse (station right outside the track) into the M3 Parkway, while the 105 bus service stops right outside the racecourse.

Boost your Fairyhouse betting experience

For more Fairyhouse betting news, visit news.williamhill.com and be sure to check out William Hill promotions where you can find the best Fairyhouse odds throughout the year.