WATCH: Limerick trainer Eric McNamara targets Irish Grand National glory

THE prestigious Boylesport Irish Grand National takes place at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday and one Limerick trainer is set to be doubly represented in the big race.

Rathkeale-based Eric McNamara and his yard has a great sense of community and warm welcome due to his family, who work alongside him, and the many jockeys and people keeping the show on the road. 

Racing yards aren’t just about training winners, it’s a way of life for the many people involved in the industry and it takes a team to prepare horses for racing. 

Real Steel is a 10-year-old bay gelding, he is a confident horse and is the king of the yard but his story wasn’t plain sailing with Eric explaining: “I won't say, I knew he still had it in him, but we were hoping he still had it in him”.

He began his racing career in Willie Mullins’ yard and then went to the UK to Paul Nicholls and a promising career seemed to diminish. 

“He just seemed to lose his way there for some reason. And he spent two years there. Running quite poorly, but he dropped so much in the handicap that I thought if we could rekindle him at all, that there could be a big day in him. 

“And he was one of the ones that came right for us,” he said. 

Easter Monday, 46 horses are entered into the illustrious race and the Limerick trainer will be hoping one of his two runners can land the big prize.

“Real Steel has been a very good horse for us. He won the Paddy Power at Leopardstown at Christmas and he's going for it and I think the three mile five will suit him down to the ground.

“I hope we don't get too much more rain and that the ground is reasonably nice and he has a chance and Donkey Years won at the big Punchestown festival last May and he seems to be in particularly good form so we're looking forward to both of them really. 

“And two great friends and two wonderful people that own them in JP McManus (Donkey Years) and Tadhg Moynihan (Real Steel) and I would really love to win it for one of them if possible,” he added. 

The Boylesports Irish Grand National Chase goes to post at 5pm.