BoyleSports Irish Grand National

IN an era where Ireland is the dominant force in National Hunt racing, Rebecca Curtis and her team deserve immense credit for fronting up to the challenge, taking aim at Fairyhouse and expertly plundering the €500,000 BoyleSports Irish Grand National with the rapidly-improving Haiti Couleurs.

What should have been one of the most competitive handicap chases run on either side of the Irish Sea this season was turned into something more like a procession for the talented Welsh raider. It was poetry in motion for anyone who backed last month’s National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Chase winner at odds of 13/2.

Sean Bowen, who only managed to renew his association with the Cheltenham Festival scorer after successfully having a careless riding suspension reduced from six to four days on appeal last week, could hardly believe his luck to be getting such a handy spin around at a manageable tempo on the front end.

Most of the field could never land a blow from off the pace, and it was Ted Walsh’s popular veteran Any Second Now who emerged from the pack to throw down the biggest challenge. Out to become the first 13-year-old winner of the Easter Monday feature since Overshadow in 1953 - and extremely well backed from 18/1 to 17/2 on the day - last year’s runner-up went down on his shield with a cracking showing only to come up just short behind the visiting challenger. He was retired by connections immediately after.

Three and a quarter lengths was the final margin, though the pair pulled another six and a half lengths clear of the third-placed Quai De Bourbon (SP 11/2 fav).

Thought to be the first Welsh-trained winner of the Irish National in the race’s storied history, the quietly-spoken Curtis clearly got immense satisfaction from crossing the Irish Sea and beating the biggest guns in National Hunt racing.

Career highlight

“I think this feels like really one of our best wins, just with the atmosphere and everything,” said Curtis, who became the fifth female trainer to win the race after Jenny Pitman, Dot Love, Sandra Hughes and Jessica Harrington.

“To me, it’s a bigger win than Cheltenham because it is hard to come here and win an Irish handicap, I know that. I did feel the pressure in the build-up. I haven't slept for about two weeks. I watched the race in the parade ring and I was calm until the last two fences. I started to get a bit… Then I let a roar.”

The victory in front of a 16,577 crowd capped a revival season for the Pembrokeshire-based trainer, who bridged a four-year gap between Cheltenham Festival wins this spring and is well on her way to bouncing back from some lean years.

“He is so tough to do it like that from the front - and on that ground as well. It was a bit of a worry but it wasn't a bother to him,” said the four-time Grade 1-winning trainer.

“Although he stays well, he is not what I call a slow horse at all. He’s got a high cruising speed. Sean just said to me there 'I thought we had another circuit to go, I was in second gear the whole way.’”

The £68,000 point-to-point recruit, who went unsold at €2,800 as a store before placing in a point-to-point for Harley Dunne, was cut from odds of around 25/1 and 33/1 to as short as 12/1 and no bigger than 20/1 for next year’s Randox Grand National. William Hill trimmed him to 40/1 (from 66/1) for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Asked whether the Brizzle Boys Partnership-owned chaser could make into a contender for next season’s Blue Riband event at Cheltenham, Curtis said: "If he keeps improving, yes. He loves Cheltenham too.”

Taking his first rides at Fairyhouse today, and having only his second winner in Ireland from a small number of rides, Bowen kicked off the week in which he will be crowned British champion jockey in some style.

“To be champion jockey is all I've ever wanted and I suppose when you get it, then you want to do more. I need the big winners as well and it's great that this lad has done it for me,” said the proud Welsh jockey.

Dream run

“I honestly can't believe it. He was just doing a half-speed the whole way around. I was hacking, but at the same time I was frightened because he got fairly revved up beforehand. I actually thought he was a bit too keen, but he was doing everything in second gear. I'm so grateful to everyone.

“Obviously I couldn't ride him at Cheltenham [due to commitments for Olly Murphy] and I'm so grateful to Becky for letting me back on him. He just stays very well and jumps very, very well. I have no words.”

Ted Walsh wasn’t short of words when it came to paying tribute to his grand old stager Any Second Now, a homebred who has given owner-breeders J.P. and Noreen McManus such joy for nearly a decade on the track. This was his final appearance before heading into retirement, and what a way for him to go out while still in terrific heart. Walsh has done a tremendous job with him for years.

“A great horse,” said the trainer, while showing understandable emotion.

“He’s nine seasons with us. He won his first race at Navan, won a Moscow Flyer over two miles, won several races over two, won a Bobbyjo over three, won a Webster Cup over two and a half, second and third in two English Nationals, now second in two Irish Nationals. Other than winning, you couldn’t get a better result. A better horse beat him on the day, and a better horse beat him last year, and that’s all you can do.

“That’s definitely the last time he’ll run. I’m delighted he’s going out sound. I’d have been happy today once he pulled up and ran a good race. A win would have been fairytale stuff, but he definitely won’t run again. He’ll enjoy himself. A great auld horse.

“He’s well named - he’s been second in four Nationals! A good, sound horse, and he’s in great nick and ran his heart out. Always I’d like to win but I don’t ever mind getting beaten when there are no excuses, and there were no excuses. He did everything right on the day, a better horse beat him on the day, and I’m just delighted that he did himself proud.”

Willie Mullins, who reached the frame with Quai De Bourbon, paid tribute to Curtis for putting it up to the home team and taking back the lion’s share of the prize money on offer.

“Quai De Bourbon ran a stormer and I thought he was in with a chance from a long way out,” said this season’s Aintree and Scottish Grand National-winning trainer.

“But it’s great to see Rebecca Curtis be brave enough to come over here after Cheltenham and take us all on. I’m delighted for her. It’s great to see a British-trained winner of the Irish National.”

Read Mark Boylan's feature with Rebecca Curtis in this week's edition of The Big Interview in The Irish Field by clicking here.