DYLAN IS BOB ON
150-1 shot wins Irish National
RANK outsider Freewheelin Dylan produced an amazing front-running performance to win the Boylesports Irish Grand National at odds of 150-1 yesterday.
The nine-year-old answered Ricky Doyle’s every call to fend off a host of pursuers up the straight in the Fairyhouse feature.
Trained by Dermot Mcloughlin, the gelding’s first-time cheekpieces worked a treat as he bravely repelled Run Wild Fred (9-1) by a length-and-a-quarter.
Mcloughlin, whose father Liam won the 1962 renewal on Kerforo, said: “It’s just great. It went to plan thankfully. I just said to Ricky he likes to bowl there along in front and jumping is his forte so use him up.
“I was a bit concerned about not getting a run into him but no, it went to plan. I said to the lads we better start shouting turning into the straight, because I knew he would stay going.”
Enjoy D’allen (40-1), was third, while 9-2 favourite Latest Exhibition finished fourth.
Mcloughlin, based three miles from the track, said the Irish National had been the plan since September. He had Freewheelin Dylan in peak condition for the 3m 5f contest, which had a first prize of €216,000, without racing him for 173 days.
“I thought everything was too good to be true,” Doyle said. “His jumping is just out of this world, but how well he travelled and the rhythm I was in
– even after jumping the fifth last I thought I’m definitely going to get to the third last and that’s going to be a cracker of a run.”
He added: “I was in a dream the whole way. It was unbelievable.”
Danny Mullins, deputising for sidelined Paul Townend, was never in contention on Agusta Gold.
The Irish jump jockeys’ title leader injured his foot in a fall at the track – and faces a race against time to be fit to ride Burrows Saint in Saturday’s Randox Grand National.