The Fairyhouse Easter Festival is a three-day National Hunt meeting held at Easter, home to the Irish Grand National — Ireland's most famous handicap chase. Run over four miles, the Irish Grand National is the climax of the domestic jumping season and generates massive betting interest from Irish punters. This guide covers the festival, the main race, and the approach to betting on the Easter weekend.
The Fairyhouse Easter Festival Programme
The festival runs over three days (Saturday–Monday of Easter weekend). The Saturday card features novice and maiden races building to Monday's centrepiece. Key races:
- Irish Grand National (Grade A handicap, 3m 5f, Easter Monday) — the main event, a stamina test with large fields of 20–30 runners.
- Rathbarry and Glenview Studs Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) — top novice hurdlers of the season.
- Dwan Insurance Fairyhouse Novice Steeplechase — novice chasing on a right-handed, undulating track.
The Irish Grand National: Betting Character
The Irish Grand National is a large-field handicap — frequently 20+ runners — over 3m 5f. As a handicap, the weights are designed to give every horse an equal chance, which means:
- Favourites win less often than in conditions races. Each-way betting is particularly popular.
- The result is genuinely difficult to predict. Research on course form at Fairyhouse (the track is right-handed and undulating, different from many Irish tracks) is worthwhile.
- Top weight is not a handicap to avoid automatically — well-treated horses at the top of the handicap can still represent value.
See our dedicated Irish Grand National betting guide for full detail on the race.
Each-Way Betting at the Easter Festival
The Irish Grand National field of 20+ runners generally attracts 5 places at 1/4 odds each-way terms from leading bookmakers. Some may offer 6 places or enhanced terms as a promotion in the week of the race. Always confirm terms before placing — extended terms can significantly increase the value of an each-way bet on a 20/1 or 33/1 runner.
Fairyhouse Track Character
Fairyhouse is a right-handed, undulating course. Ground in April can range from yielding to good, depending on the spring weather. The fences are regarded as fair but test a horse's jumping ability throughout the race. Horses that have run well at Fairyhouse before — particularly in the testing conditions Easter sometimes produces — are worth noting in the form book.
Responsible Betting at Easter
No selection is guaranteed to win. Easter weekend concentrates a large amount of recreational betting; plan a fixed budget for the festival and stick to it. Contact the Gambling Awareness Trust at 1800 753 753 or visit gamblingcare.ie.
Irish Grand National and Easter Festival markets at Fairyhouse. Race-day and ante-post. GRAI remote betting licence in force. 18+ only, T&Cs apply.
Bet on Fairyhouse Easter Festival →Frequently Asked Questions
The Fairyhouse Easter Festival runs over three days at Easter — Saturday to Easter Monday. The 2027 dates depend on the Easter calendar; the festival is typically in late March or April. Exact dates are confirmed by Horse Racing Ireland.
The Irish Grand National is run over 3 miles 5 furlongs (3m 5f) at Fairyhouse. It is a Grade A handicap chase run on Easter Monday.
With typical fields of 20+ runners, standard terms are 5 places at 1/4 odds. Some bookmakers offer enhanced terms (6 places) as a promotion in race week. Always confirm before placing.
Fairyhouse is a right-handed, undulating track in County Meath, approximately 25km north of Dublin. Horses with good form on right-handed courses and in yielding ground conditions are worth noting.