SLEVIN ENJOYS A RAFFLES WIN
SUPER SUB JJ Slevin survived a late scare to win the BoyleSports Irish Grand National on wellfancied Intense Raffles.
Standing in for sidelined jockey Daryl Jacob, the jockey held on tight as his grey mount jumped awkwardly exiting Fairyhouse’s back straight.
After mastering long-time leader Frontal Assault, Slevin’s 13-2 chance then had to fight off final challenger Any Second Now.
Twice placed in the Grand National at Aintree, the 12-year-old pushed Tom Gibney’s trainee all the way in Ireland’s richest jumps race, with Minella Cocooner close-up in third.
Jacob, in the saddle for two preparatory wins on Intense Raffles, owned by his employers Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, was injured in a Newbury fall on March 22.
“Poor Daryl is sitting at home with a broken collarbone, it’s his ride and I was just lucky to get the call,” said Slevin, also on-board 2018 winner General Principle.
“It’s a massive performance for a six-year-old. He gave the fourth-last a right belt and I thought that’d knock the stuffing out of him.
“He was getting a bit lonely in front but galloped all the way to the line.” In murky conditions, half of the 20-runner field completed the 3m 5f distance, with 4-1 favourite Nick Rockett only seventh.
Gibney’s grey, the only six-yearold to line up, was giving his handler a second success after Lion Na Bearnai’s 2012 exploits.
■ CONSTITUTION HILL returned home yesterday to recover from a suspected bout of colic and will not run again this season.
In a statement, his trainer Nicky Henderson said yesterday: “Constitution Hill returned to Seven Barrows this morning and it is wonderful to have him home after what he has endured.
“He resumed normal feed yesterday with no further ill effects and had a nice pick of grass in the welcome sunshine.
“Hopefully this is all behind him now but the reality is he is going to take some time to recover and put some weight back on again.
“Therefore our much anticipated match with State Man will have to wait until next season.”