The 2024 Grand National 11 - 13 April

Carlingford Lough

Carlingford Lough is an Irish racehorse which specialises in the jump events. John P McManus, who owns several top Grand National horses, is also behind Carlingford Lough. He has been trained by J E Kiely throughout his racing career, which started in 2011. After finishing in a disappointing seventh out of 18 runners in his first race, Carlingford Lough went on to manage back-to-back victories in the subsequent races. It made him a prominent figure in the Grand National horses. Carrying a weight of 11-10, salthillhotel.com Handicap Hurdle saw Carlingford Lough emerged as a top runner. At just five years of age when he achieved his first victory, it was clear that it would take another couple of years before Carlingford Lough was a regular fixture in the favourites for Grand National runners. Sired by King’s Theatre, who was a winner of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and King George VI, Carlingford Lough clearly has the pedigree when it comes to winning the major events. King’s Theatre has sired many runners who have gone on to win events like Ascot Chase and Ryanair Chase. Carlingford Lough has managed 29 runs in his career so far and these have led to 10 victories. Even though he had managed to achieve victories early on in his career, Carlingford Lough found it difficult to sustain the success during the 2013 and 2014 seasons. The inconsistencies early on in his career certainly did not affect the probability of being named as one of the top in the list of Grand National horses. However, it certainly was a stumbling block when it came to making the appearance in the top events. This Irish racehorse was not competing in the class I events until 2013. The motivation to make the jump up was provided by success at the www.thetote.com Galway Plate. After starting as a favourite for the race, he managed to keep up the position under strong pressure from Quantitativeeasing. It was the Topaz Novice Chase success towards the end of 2013 which pointed to the emergence of Carlingford Lough as one of the top horses running in the Grand National. He followed up this result with wins at Growise Champion Novice Chase and Hennessy Gold Cup to be regarded as one of the inform horses around. He has managed to continue the form into 2016 after winning the Irish Gold Cup and Bibby Financial Services Ireland Punchestown Gold Cup. These victories have truly made Carlingford Lough one of the big names of the Grand National horses to consider in 2021.