Boylesports Irish Grand National |
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| Grade A Handicap, Fairyhouse 17:00 €275,000 added, 5yo plus, 3m 5f, Class 1  |
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| Monday 6th April 2015 | |
1 Thunder And Roses 20/1
2 Rule The World 20/1
3 Sizing Coal 40/1
4 Band Of Blood 50/1
5 Alderwood 66/1
NR: Grand Jesture (IRE), Usuel Smurfer (FR)
28 ran Distances: 4¼l, ½l, 7½l
TIME 8m 8.20s (slow by 51.20s)
Thunder And Roses wins the BoyleSports Irish Grand National for Sandra Hughes under Katie Walsh
Five casualties at the first fence: Job Is Right, Vics Canvas, Daring Article, Empire Of Dirt and She's Got Grit
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Katie Walsh steered the Sandra Hughes-trained Thunder And Roses to victory in an eventful race.
Five horses came to grief at the first fence in the three-mile-five-furlong contest and a number of others failed to complete.
A wave of three runners for leading owners Gigginstown House Stud led the field turning into the home straight, with 20-1 shot Thunder And Roses alongside the Mouse Morris pair of Rule The World and Band Of Blood.
The trio jumped the final fence virtually as one, but Thunder And Roses picked up best on landing, galloping all the way to the line to secure a four-and-a-quarter-length victory.
Rule The World held onto the runner-up spot from Sizing Coal, with Band Of Blood weakening on the run-in for fourth spot.
In a dramatic race, five horses came to grief at the first fence and only nine of the 28 runners completed the course.
Walsh, sister of legendary jockey Ruby and daughter of trainer Ted, said: "This is absolutely class.
"I've had some fantastic days, but this is an Irish National.
"It's great for women in racing."
Hughes said: "Katie was absolutely fantastic, she just suited him to a tee.
"She was brilliant and he (Thunder And Roses) was brilliant.
"Someone above was helping us out. Dad always loved this race and to do it for him is wonderful. Dad was with us all the way."
Tony McCoy, riding in his final Irish Grand National before retirement, finished sixth aboard the Paul Webber-trained Cantlow.
"The horse ran well but the ground was a little bit tacky for him," said McCoy.
"I thought he had a little chance turning in, but the ground got the better of him.
"It was great for Sandra Hughes and Katie Walsh - brilliant."
Boylesports Irish Grand National Chase
(Extended Handicap) (Grade A)
€275,000 added, 5yo plus, 3m 5f, Class 1
28 ran
Going: Soft, Soft to Heavy in places
| Pos | Dist | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Thunder And Roses (IRE) 20/1 | Ms K Walsh 10-6 |
Ms S Hughes | 7 | |
| 2nd | 4¼ | Rule The World 20/1 | D J Mullins (5) 10-11 |
M F Morris | 8 |
| 3rd | ½ | Sizing Coal (IRE) 40/1 | J J Burke 9-13 |
J T R Dreaper | 7 |
| 4th | 7½ | Band Of Blood (IRE) 50/1 | A P Crowe 10-3 |
M F Morris | 7 |
| 5th | 1½ | Alderwood (IRE) 66/1 | N P Madden 11-0 |
T Mullins | 11 |
| 6th | 2½ | Cantlow (IRE) 12/1 | A P McCoy 10-6 |
P R Webber | 10 |
| 7th | 2 | My Murphy (IRE) 16/1 | R M Power 10-10 |
W J Burke | 9 |
| 8th | 2¼ | No Secrets (IRE) 25/1 | D E Mullins 10-2 |
A J Martin | 11 |
| 9th | 2¼ | Rivage D'Or (FR) 25/1 | S A Shortall (5) 10-5 |
A J Martin | 10 |
| PU | If In Doubt (IRE) 18/1 | G N Fox (5) 11-7 |
P J Hobbs | 7 | |
| PU | Perfect Gentleman (IRE) 10/1 | R Walsh 10-10 |
W P Mullins | 10 | |
| PU | The Job Is Right 14/1 | M A Enright 10-10 |
M Hourigan | 7 | |
| PU | Pass The Hat 33/1 | D J Casey 10-9 |
A L T Moore | 8 | |
| PU | Los Amigos (IRE) 8/1f | A E Lynch 10-8 |
J T R Dreaper | 8 | |
| PU | Lots Of Memories (IRE) 14/1 | P D Kennedy (5) 10-8 |
P G Fahey | 8 | |
| PU | Dogora (FR) 25/1 | P Townend 10-5 |
W P Mullins | 6 | |
| PU | Tammys Hill (IRE) 20/1 | B T O'Connell 10-5 |
L Lennon | 10 | |
| PU | Silver Tassie (IRE) 40/1 | P Carberry 10-2 |
N Meade | 7 | |
| PU | The Crafty Butcher (IRE) 33/1 | D J Condon 10-2 |
M Hourigan | 8 | |
| PU | Champagne James (IRE) 10/1 | A P Heskin 10-1 |
T M Walsh | 7 | |
| PU | Alpha Victor (IRE) 40/1 | P Buchanan 10-0 |
W Kinsey | 10 | |
| PU | Clar Na Mionn (IRE) 66/1 | R C Colgan 9-11 |
V T O'Brien | 8 | |
| F | Vics Canvas (IRE) 14/1 | C D Maxwell (3) 10-8 |
D A McLoughlin | 12 | |
| F | Lion Na Bearnai (IRE) 33/1 | K C Sexton (3) 10-5 |
T Gibney | 13 | |
| F | Empire Of Dirt (IRE) 9/1 | L P Dempsey (5) 10-2 |
C A Murphy | 8 | |
| F | She's Got Grit (IRE) 20/1 | C O'Farrell 9-13 |
T O'Brien | 10 | |
| F | Daring Article (IRE) 33/1 | P T Enright 9-11 |
R Tyner | 9 | |
| UR | Rogue Angel (IRE) 33/1 | Ms N Carberry 10-0 |
M F Morris | 7 | |
| NR | Grand Jesture (IRE) 12/1 | J J Burke 11-0 |
H De Bromhead | 7 | |
| NR | Usuel Smurfer (FR) 33/1 | B Hayes (3) 10-5 |
J J Hanlon | 7 |
