A Grand day... for the ducks!
THE heavens may have opened at the Irish Grand National track in Fairyhouse yesterday, but the awful weather didn’t rain on the parade of the glamour posse who put on a stylish display.
Bringing a dash of colour to a dull and rainy day was the Most Stylish Lady winner, Michelle Fallon from Co. Kildare.
The Newbridge native impressed the judges with her full and flowing tartan pattern dress, topped off with an eye-catching bright yellow hat, which the mother-of-two milliner made herself.
Ms Fallon, after being crowned the Carton House Most Stylish Lady yesterday, said: ‘I am frozen but delighted.’
The thrifty fashionista said she bought her dress from an online boutique and picked up her fur stole and trusty umbrella from Penneys to complete her outfit.
On the track, the 20/1 General Principle, owned by Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary, won the Irish Grand National.
WILLIE Mullins banked over €200,000 at Fairyhouse yesterday with a 28/1 Grade Two treble and a second place in the Irish Grand National – yet lost ground by over €100,000 to Gordon Elliott in the race to be top trainer. The odds against Mullins retaining his Irish title have drifted to 9/4 from 5/4 while Elliott has been clipped to 1/3, as his National success with General Principle helped him open a lead of almost €300,000. Mullins won’t give up without a fight and may aim all three of his winners, Getabird, Coquin Mans and Un De Sceaux at bigger Punchestown pots later this month. Getabird (evens) bounced back from his Cheltenham Festival flop by hosing up in the Hardy Eustace Novice Hurdle by 12 lengths, while Un De Sceaux (5/6) benefited from the capsize at the second last by Doctor Phoenix in the Fairyhouse Chase. In between, the colours of Hurricane Fly were carried to victory by Coquin Mans (7/1) in the Ballybin Hurdle – all three winners were booted home by Paul Townend. ‘Un De Sceaux is an iron horse. ‘The way he races and the way he trains, he’s as hard as nails,’ purred Mullins. ‘We think a lot of Coquin Mans. He’ll go to Punchestown too.’ MOUSE Morris and Tom Gibney have both enjoyed special moments at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday. Morris has two Irish Grand Nationals on his training CV with Hear The Echo (2008) and Rogue Angel (2016), while Gibney saddled Lion Na Bearnai to win in 2012. While Morris was out of luck with Thunder And Roses in the National yesterday, he struck in the opening two-mile handicap hurdle with Western Ruler (25/1), ridden by Rachael Blackmore. ‘Two miles is definitely his thing and he handled the ground. He’ll jump a fence in time,’ said Morris. For Gibney, there was compensation for the narrow defeat of Global Fert on Sunday when the aptly named, Ah Littleluck (25/1) led home just six finishers out of 20 runners in the twomile six-furlong handicap hurdle. The pink silks shone through the gloom as Andrew Lynch set a pace that drew the sting from all comers. Miles To Memphis was beaten five and a half lengths at the post, with the rest nowhere. ‘He was unlucky in the good novice race here last year when he fell at the last. ‘He’s been knocking on the door in some good races,’ said Gibney.