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07 Apr 2026
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07 Apr 2026
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Donagh Meyler celebrates with the trophy after winning the BOYLE Sports Irish Grand National Steeplechase on Soldier In Milan at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday.
It was a weekend to remember for Kilmacow jockey Donagh Meyler after he landed five winners at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival.
The icing on the cake arrived on Monday evening as the 30-year old guided the Emmet Mullins trained Soldier In Milan to a runaway success in the Irish Grand National.
It’s been quite the year for Meyler from winning the Galway Plate last summer to losing out in the Galway Hurdle due to interference a day later.
Throw-in missing the ride on Affordale Fury in his Grade 1 success in Leopardstown at Christmas but this victory is the sweetest of them all for the Kilkennyman.
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"It’s unbelievable, there’s no hiding it that I’ve had a lot of ups and downs this year with horses not winning and getting beat in steward rooms but this makes up for it all", Meyler added when speaking to RTE Sport directly after the race.
"I’m up numbers wise and it’s my best season and this just crowns it all.
"He travelled brilliantly through the race and jumped great and I still nearly landed in front too soon but he’s a class horse with a great trainer and owner and I’m just so happy to be involved with these type of people and fair play to the stable staff involved with the yarde too as they are there day in and day out so hats off to them.
It was a 47th winner of the season for Meyler and while it was undoubtedly the biggest of his career, the weekend as a whole was also incredible for the winning rider.
It wasn’t connections only win on the card with Donagh and Emmet also teaming up to land the opening Farmhouse Foods Novice Handicap Hurdle with Jet to Monte Carlo keeping on well to win at odds of 9-1.
The weekend at the Meath venue began with Meyler claiming victory aboard alliteration for Phillip Dempsey Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle on Saturday before he then rode a double 24 hours later.
Colcannon was a cosy winner for Noel Meade in the Ryan's Cleaning Maiden Hurdle before the jockey teamed up with Eddie Cawley to land the Boylesports Novice Handicap Chase with Come Walk with me.
An incredible few days for Meyler as he continues to go from strength to strength in the saddle.
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