Donagh Meyler carrying Grand National-winning confidence into Punchestown Festival

Daragh Nolan chatted to the Kilkenny man who won the 2026 Irish Grand National on-board Soldier in Milan over Easter at Fairyhouse ahead of the Kildare festival

There will be few jockeys headed into the 2026 Punchestown Festival with more belief than Donagh Meyler. The Kilkenny man rode Soldier In Milan to win the Irish Grand National at a canter over Easter and added a major title to his previous Grade 1 winning pedigree.

“It was a magic day altogether. The stuff of dreams and greatness really. All the family were there and my young nephew as well,” Donagh said.

Perhaps the premier snapshot to emerge from the three-day festival at Fairyhouse was Donagh still in the colours of Paul Byrne alongside his three year-old nephew, Jim Kelleher, with the Irish Grand National Perpetual Trophy.

Donagh added, “There is one where we are high-fiving, it was class. He is only three now, but hopefully that is a day that stays in his memory.

“My mother was there as well. Only for her, I'd be lost. She would drive me around the country to different horse races and events. Over to trainers and that as a child, so yeah, fantastic to have her there and celebrate with her as well.”

Despite mounting the favourite, winning any Grand National is far from a foregone conclusion such as the incalculable variables involved, but Donagh and Soldier in Milan made it through the three miles and five furlongs with relative comfort.

“It went really smoothly. I couldn't have been happier throughout. We got away good and smart and he jumped every fence very well, whether he was on a long stride or short,” Donagh explained.

“He was very good and travelled so sweet throughout the race, nearly too sweet in some places. But yeah, I couldn't have been happier throughout.”

Soldier In Milan had a commanding lead approaching the last as punters held their breath and clenched their programme. It was only after successfully gliding over the closing obstacle that the man on board got a chance to appreciate the position that he found himself in.

“It was when I got over the last and had a look up at the big screen, I just couldn't get over how far clear I was. It was a magic feeling, being able to enjoy winning the Grand National for the last furlong,” Donagh smiled.

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One of the breakout moments for the now Grand National-winning jockey was his first win, which came on future Cheltenham Gold contender Anibale Fly on March 1, 2015 before another major win on the Tony Martin-trained horse in 2017 when the duo were first past the post in the €200,000 Paddy Power Chase at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival that year.

“Anibale Fly was a great servant to me,” Donagh said. “My first winner was in Navan on him and then for him to go on and win a Paddy Power around Leopardstown for me as well was magic. Unreal for any jockey to stumble upon one of those horses and he went on after and finished second in the Gold Cup (2019).

“It is brilliant to be riding in these races and obviously in such prestigious colours, Mr. McManus’ colours. To ride my first winner for that man and to win a Paddy Power Chase around Leopardstown was unbelievable.”

He continued, “Tiger Roll was another great horse, I got to win a Munster National on him. And to see what he went on to do and to be a little part of his story along the way was pretty special as well.”

The Kilmacow man has previous in Punchestown too and rode his first Grade 1 winner for his long-time collaborators, trainer Emmet Mullins and owner Paul Byrne at the Kildare track.

“Feronily for Emmet in 2023,” Donagh said, “It’s been a happy hunting ground for us so I'm really looking forward to it this year.

“I suppose it was hanging over me for a while. Every jockey dreams of winning Grade 1 races and to take part in plenty of them. To get that, have it on my CV, it was a big monkey off the back. It was also obviously Emmet’s first Grade 1 winner as well, along with Paul Byrne, so it was fairytale stuff for the three of us.

“Joining Emmet’s yard has brought my career to a different level and it's nice to see the two of us progressing up through the ranks together. His stable is getting bigger and his CV is getting stronger as well. It has been great to do it together.”

Headed into the 2026 Punchestown Festival, Donagh will reunite with his Irish Grand National-winning partner Soldier In Milan, who holds an entry for the Dooley Insurance Grade 1 Novice Chase. While Noel Meade’s Blake is currently down for both the PRL Champion Novice Hurdle on Tuesday and the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle on Friday.

The Festival represents the latest exciting week of action for the jockey who was introduced to the world of horse racing by Irish Grand National winning-owners, the Dollard Family.

“They live a kilometre up the road,” Donagh explained. “They were kind of the first ones that gave me the bug for horse racing and they were very good to me growing up. They got me pony racing and they had plenty of horses in their yard as well. So I kind of got the bug with them going and I can’t thank them enough.

“One of my best friends, Lord rest him, Bob Croke, I used to go to his house after school and I went for riding lessons with him one day and just got hooked from there. I am just very lucky to be involved with the people I am riding for at the moment.

Donagh concluded, “Emmet Mullins and owner Paul Byrne, who are gentlemen. Hopefully we'll have many more lucky years together. And obviously, Noel Meade too, who is a champion trainer. Again, I am very lucky to be riding for the people that I'm riding for.”