The 2026 Irish Grand National meeting at Fairyhouse has once again delivered a weekend of high drama, upsets, and rising stars, with the famed Willie Mullins stable playing a central role in the storylines. While the Grand National itself looms as the main event, the opening days have already set the stage for what promises to be a memorable festival, blending the emergence of new talents, surprise victories, and the relentless pursuit of glory by some of racing’s biggest names.
One name quietly making waves is Kiss Will, a French-bred chaser who has steadily built a reputation as a dark horse in the Mullins yard. Purchased for a hefty €280,000 after showing flashes of brilliance in France, Kiss Will’s journey to Fairyhouse has been anything but ordinary. His Irish debut at the venue was a statement in itself—a two-mile maiden hurdle where he justified his 4/11 favoritism by bolting clear to win by 13 lengths. That early display of dominance hinted at a horse with plenty more to give.
But as is often the case in National Hunt racing, the road to the top is rarely straightforward. Kiss Will was soon tested in deeper waters, including a tilt at the Grade 1 Turners at the Cheltenham Festival. While he finished down the field there, he bounced back with a win in the Gold Castle Novices’ Hurdle at Perth, before taking a well-earned summer break. The real intrigue began this season as Kiss Will switched to fences, embarking on a novice chase campaign that has seen him consistently knocking on the door without quite breaking through.
In four chase starts thus far, Kiss Will has yet to taste victory, but the bare numbers don’t tell the whole story. He’s finished second to the likes of Koktail Divin and Soldier In Milan at Leopardstown and Punchestown—no mean feat given how those races have stood up in the form book. His most recent effort, a staying-on fifth in the Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival over 2 miles 4½ furlongs, suggested that the trip and tempo were just a shade sharp for him. The step up in distance for the Irish Grand National could be exactly what he needs.
The handicapper has allotted Kiss Will a weight of 10-11 for the marathon test at Fairyhouse. On paper, it’s not a headline-grabbing number, but in a race of fine margins, it could be just the edge required. As Matt Brocklebank pointed out in his Handicap Hints column, "Kiss Will is the type of Willie Mullins novice who might be overlooked amid all the noise about British raiders and higher-profile Irish runners."
Indeed, everything about Kiss Will’s chase campaign points to untapped potential. His best efforts have come when stamina was at a premium, and his running style screams out for an extended trip. He’ll run off a mark of 139, which is 2lb lower than his Cheltenham assignment, giving him scope to be ahead of the assessor at this longer distance. Recent renewals of the Irish Grand National have often been won by lightly raced, progressive types rather than seasoned handicappers, adding another tick in the box for this unexposed novice.
Of course, there are question marks. Kiss Will has yet to win over fences, so his claims are built more on promise and substance in defeat than a string of victories. His jumping is generally sound, though he’s had the odd novicey moment—like that slightly untidy leap at the last in his Fairyhouse hurdle win. Yet, the fact that Paul Townend, Mullins’s go-to man for the big occasion, has chosen to partner him speaks volumes about the regard in which he’s held within the yard.
"He has found again after being headed, put in solid efforts behind progressive types, and stayed on strongly in a hot novice handicap," wrote Brocklebank, underscoring why Kiss Will is seen by many as a live player rather than just another name on the Mullins roster. He may not come with the festival-headline Grade 1 win, but he looks every inch the slow-burning, well-campaigned staying novice that Mullins excels with. In a race where staying power and tactical nous are everything, Kiss Will could well be the horse that causes punters to say afterwards, "We should have seen that coming."
Elsewhere at Fairyhouse, the Mullins yard has already been making headlines. Kalix Delabarriere, a 22-1 outsider, stormed home in the RYBO Handicap Hurdle, beating stablemate Sea Of Sands by five lengths. The exacta paid a whopping €1,447.10 for a €1 stake, underlining the unpredictable nature of the meeting. "I'm delighted for Sean to have a nice winner on a big day," said Mullins, praising young jockey Sean Cleary-Farrell’s patient ride and the decisive impact of first-time cheekpieces.
The shocks didn’t stop there. Gordon Elliott’s Sept Etoiles defied odds of 80-1 to claim the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle Series Final by six lengths, while Gavin Cromwell enjoyed a memorable double with Me Wee Bonnie Lass and Belladaball, both landing Listed honors in their respective races. Cromwell, reflecting on Me Wee Bonnie Lass’s victory, remarked, "There was loads of pace and she was flat to the boards early on but she got into a great rhythm... She’s a game little filly."
But perhaps the most eye-catching performance of the meeting so far came from another Mullins novice, He's On Fire. The five-year-old, owned by Rich and Susannah Ricci, produced a scintillating display in the Grade 2 Paddy Kehoe Suspended Ceilings Novice Hurdle, winning by 12 lengths under Paul Townend. Mullins was effusive in his praise: "The way he opened up from the second-last – wow, that was something else. I didn't think he'd leave some of our own horses that far behind so he's just improving all the time. It was very impressive."
He's On Fire had three runs in France last year, with his best effort coming as a runner-up at Auteuil, but it was this Fairyhouse victory that truly announced his arrival. Townend’s decision to ride him among six Mullins runners was vindicated in style, and the future looks bright, with a likely appearance at Punchestown next and a possible chase campaign in the offing. Bookmakers have already made him a 12-1 shot for next year’s Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.
Not to be overshadowed, Zanoosh delivered a breakthrough Grade 1 win for both jockey Brian Hayes and trainer Colm Murphy in the Honeysuckle Mares Novice Hurdle, extending her winning streak to five. Koktail Brut, another promising novice, added a third Fairyhouse victory to his record for Gordon Elliott, further highlighting the depth of talent on display at this year’s meeting.
As the 2026 Irish Grand National approaches, all eyes will be on Kiss Will and the rest of the Mullins contingent. With so many emerging stories and unexpected twists already, Fairyhouse is once again proving why it’s one of the true jewels of the National Hunt calendar. The action is ongoing, and the best may be yet to come as the festival builds towards its thrilling climax.