It was a case of lightning striking twice in the Irish Grand National, with the Dermot McLoughlin trained Lord Lariat taking the win at 40/1, repeating last year’s incredible success with a 150/1 shot.
Lord Lariat delighted horse racing betting fans with the big odds win, ridden by jockey Paddy O’Hanlon; Frontal Assault was second, with favourite Gaillard Du Mesnil back in third at Fairyhouse.
The win comes just 12 months after the local trainer stunned the racing world by taking Easter Monday’s big prize with Freewheelin Dylan, a 150/1 rank outsider.
Although plenty of horses fell, this had little bearing on the race as Frontal Assault was clear at the front for the majority of the race before being challenged by Lord Lariat in the home straight. The horse made his move from the second-last and took the big money race by a comfortable five lengths.
Frontal Assault took second, and despite 11-2 favourite Gaillard Du Mesnil running well, the horse had to make do with a place in third. Screaming Colours filled the other placings in 4th and Early Doors in 5th.
McLoughlin said of Lord Lariat: “Our plan was to jump him out, but I was a bit concerned about getting the trip.
“Obviously we wanted to get a start like we did last year and utilise his jumping as he is a good jumper. Paddy said he got plenty of breathers into him and it all worked out well.
“We’ve been aiming for this since before Christmas. He won a ladies’ race here in November when he ran away with the jockey, Joanna Walton, and she said then that he would get further.
“We’re 10 minutes down the road, there was nobody here last year but my family and everyone is here this year – it’s unbelievable.
“Paddy started off with me five or six years ago, he was going to be a Flat jockey for a while. He went over to England and tried the Flat there but had no luck and came back and rode a couple of winners for me on the Flat.
“I said, ‘Paddy forget about the Flat, you’re going to be a big lad’, and he took to jumping like a duck to water. He won a couple of hurdle races, and it went from there, he’s flying now.”
Dermot McLoughlin’s horses in the rest of the races didn’t fare as well. Opposites Attract finished 4th, beaten by 28L, Thunderosa finished 5th, beaten by 36L, Lady Goliath finished 11th, beaten by 17L and War Hero finished 5th from a field of 13 in Wednesday’s racing.
