McLoughlin the Lord of Fairyhouse again
Ratoath trainer Dermot McLoughlin only went and did again at Fairyhouse today as he saddled Lord Lariat under jockey Paddy O'Hanlon to victory in the Irish Grand National.
Glasnevin jockey O'Hanlon has been living in Skryne for the last few years and has been riding for McLoughlin for four years and he was delighted with the victory.
"It's unbelievable, I'm over the moon. Thanks to Dermot and the owners for keeping faith with me," said O'Hanlon.
"I was delighted to be here with a ride in the race. Dermot was quietly confident he'd run a big race if we could get him out, and he was fairly spot on and he's done the job.
"I was quietly confident, he had a little break after his last run, so he was fresh enough and Dermot was sweet on him and he doesn't be too far wrong about these things."
In front of empty stands last year McLoughlin trained Freewheelin' Dylan to land the blue riband of the Irish jumps racing calendar, but the stands were packed this afternoon as Lord Lariat was roared on to victory by a bumper crowd.
While the odds weren't at generous as the 150/1 winner last year, there was plenty of local support for Lord Lariat and he duly obliged at 40/1, pulling clear of Gordon Elliott's long-time leader Frontal Assault after the last, with Willie Mullins favourite Gaillard Du Mesnil in third.
The winning trainer was cool and collected after the race, but did admit that he was jumping up and down inside.
"This is a nice horse. We laid him out from before Christmas. I was concerned that he mightn't get the trip to I said it to Paddy to go and have a go," said McLoughlin.
"He popped out in front and a bit like last year (with Freewheelin' Dylan) he kept jumping and he gave him a breather at the right time, so it all worked out well, it doesn't usually happen like that.
"We said going out to do something similar to last year if we could. We wanted him to jump out and be handy and utilise his jumping, he's a very good jumper and it just worked out. Paddy got a breather into him at the right time and it all worked out.
"This probably won't sink in for a while. Paddy only lives down the road as well, and he has been riding with us a few mornings a week, so it's great.
"I've been coming here since a young age and my father (Liam) rode the winner here himself in 1962 (Kerforo for trainer Tom Dreaper) and he also rode Arkle as well.
"It's great, it will take a few days for it to sink in again, but it's great, it's mighty. We have great staff and it goes well.
"Of course I'm excited, when we saw him coming down to the last there it was great. My wife and kids are here today, they missed last year, so that is an unbelievable feeling to have them here today.
"The owners are local too. PJ and his wife Sonia are from Oldtown and Pat is from Clare, so they will all be in good form," concluded the trainer.
Trim trainer Thomas Gibney's Velvet Elvis was sixth, while Stamullen's Francis Casey's Max Flamingo ran on gamely to take seventh.
Noel Meade's Diol Ker was 10th, Death Duty was 11th for Gordon Elliott, while Robbie Power was on board Time To Get Up in 13th. The other local horses didn't finish.