How Many Irish National Winners Have Won The Grand National? As Intense Raffles Eyes Famous Double

12 months ago, the 2024 Aintree Grand National winner I Am Maximus headed to Aintree having won the Irish Grand National the previous season. We could see history repeat itself in 2025 with Intense Raffles.

This is becuase – just like I Am Maximus – the Thomas Gibney-trained Intense Raffles has also landed the Irish Grand National (2024).

So, just how many horses have managed to win both races over the years?

We’ve Seen FIVE Horses Win The Irish and Aintree Grand Nationals – But None In The Same Season

With the dates of the Irish and Aintree Grand National Festival changing slightly each year and often run not that far apart from each other.

Therefore, it’s no shock that we’ve not seen a horse win both races in the same season.

However, that doesn’t mean we’ve not had horses win both races in their careers.

As mentioned in the intro, only last season the 2024 Grand National winner I Am Maximus had already won the Irish version in 2023 at Fairyhouse.

But he was the first since Numbersixvalverde, who won both races in 2005 and 2006.

Prior to that it was the Paul Carberry-ridden Bobbyjo in 1998 and 1999.

With Rhyme ‘n’ Reason and Ascetic’s Silver the only others to pull off the double.

In total, there have been five horses win both races.

Irish Grand National and Aintree Grand National Winners

WATCH: I Am Maximus Winning The Grand National, The Season After His Irish National Success

Intense Raffles Bidding To Become the Next Irish National Winner To Land the Grand National at Aintree

The next horse to try and add his name to the Irish/English Grand National hall-of-fame is INTENSE RAFFLES, who is one of the big best horse racing betting sites in the UK.

This 7 year-old landed the Irish version at Fairyhouse back on 1st April 2024. Beating the 2022 National Grand National runner-up Any Second Now.

He’s since been running over hurdles – most likely in a bid to protect his handicap mark.

Intense Raffles is set to carry 10st 1olbs in weight – which is a plus with three of the last four winners having 10st 10lbs or less.

However, he returned to fences in late February after the Grand National weights were announced to run a fine second in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse.

Oh, it’s also worth pointing out that past Grand National winners Tiger Roll (2018) and Rule The World (2016) also ran in the Irish National the previous year. Tiger Roll was pulled-up in 2017, while Rule The World was runner-up in 2015.

2025 Aintree Grand National Date and Details

📅Date: Saturday 5th April 2025
⌚Time: 4:00pm
🏇Racecourse: Aintree
🔄Trip: 4m 2 1/2f
💷Winner: £500,000
📺 TV: ITV / Racing TV

You can see the full 2025 Aintree Grand National Festival race schedule, running order and TV channels.

2014 Irish National Winner Shutthefrontdoor Went onto Run 5th In The 2015 Grand National

Barry Geraghty guided the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Shutthefrontdoor to Irish National victory in 2014 and went close at Aintree the following season.

He was sent off as the 6/1 Grand National favourite in 2015 and under AP McCoy managed to finish 5th behind Many Clouds. This horse remains the most recent English-trained winner of the National.

Shutthefrontdoor’s run in the race was also the final National ride for former champion jockey AP McCoy.

2019 Irish National Winner Burrows Saint Went onto Run 4th In The 2021 Grand National

The Willie Mullins-trained Burrows Saint also went close to landing the double. He won the 2019 Irish National aged just 6 – and then ran fourth in the 2021 Aintree renewal two years later.

With the JP McManus-owned Minella Times winning that year.