Irish racing legend Paul Carberry sat down with BoyleSports for an exclusive chat ahead of the 2025 Irish Grand National.
The legendary jockey reflects on his iconic win aboard Bobbyjo, shares his thoughts on the race’s growing status, and discusses the challenges smaller trainers face against powerhouse yards. Plus, he weighs in on the potential impact of Constitution Hill making the trip to Punchestown.
Bobbyjo’s win in the 1998 Irish Grand National was his first run over fences
He’s the only one I really got placed in the race with. Fairyhouse was a good hunting ground but the National was never a lucky race for me.
I just never had the right horse really for it apart from Bobbyjo.
My first ride over fences with him was in the Irish National. I always thought he had a chance despite it being his first run over fences, I had no doubt.
We had some good celebrations but the next couple of days I was racing so we had a big party a couple of weeks later to make up for some lost time!
The Irish Grand National isn’t as tough as its English equivalent - but its importance in the racing calendar is continually increasing
It’s a big track, big galloping track, the fences are big but it is a proper Grade 1 track, a very good one. I had some good winners there.
It’s not as tough as the English National no.
The sponsors have put the money forward for it now so the better horses are coming for it. There were a few years where they weren’t but now they are. Money brings them together.
These big festivals, the real good horses are coming now and the real good horses are coming, it has been a huge plus for Irish racing.
The sport is in a great spot, there are a lot of good owners, even some from England, it is thriving at the moment. In England it might be a concern. Yes, a lot of owners are heading over here.
The prize money is better over here and in England, it hasn’t really gone up that much even since I was riding.
It is a struggle for the smaller trainers in Ireland to keep up with the super yards
They can’t keep up. It is very hard to compete, even with the sales,the big owners buy them and so you end up buying horses that you can’t really afford as a smaller trainer. Grade 1 runners you can’t afford so you could end up overpaying for a horse that might not be that Grade 1 winner you’re looking for.
Willie Mullins’ runners are machines - he also has a great team behind him which sets him up for success
Even if you listen to Willie in interviews after the race,he knows everything about the horse inside out and is always thinking about what is next. He has these things planned out two years in advance, they are machines and they blow everyone away. He is rotating them every year, you can’t sit back and relax and he just keeps finding them.
He has a great team behind him. I know Patrick is a big part of it. He will keep it going afterwards.
Having Constitution Hill coming over to Ireland would be tremendous for the sport
It would be absolutely great to see him come over and race here [Constitution Hill]. Nicky wants him to come over, he was disappointed where he fell, he thinks he is back to his best so I think he would be right to come over, he’d get a good crowd following him over as well.
Having British runners come over is brilliant. A lot of people would go to see him just to see him racing over here.
Racing needs a superstar, look at Frankel a few years ago. Nicky has been very lucky, he has always had a star at some point, he has got a good one now as well.
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