A stunning front-running performance from Freewheelin Dylan produced a shock 150-1 success in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.
Given a brilliant ride by Ricky Doyle, the Dermot McLoughlin-trained nine-year-old was always travelling well and although the challengers loomed, he never looked like buckling.
Run Wild Fred got closest, a length and a quarter away, with Enjoy D'allen another three lengths back in third and 9-2 favourite Latest Exhibition a creditable fourth under the welter burden of 11st 10lb.
At odds of 150-1 Freewheelin Dylan has won the Boylesports Irish Grand National for trainer Dermot McLoughlin and jockey Ricky Doyle #BoyleSportsIGN @Fairyhouse #rteracing @RTE2 @RTEplayer pic.twitter.com/fiYMncsisT
— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) April 5, 2021
Afterwards, the winning trainer said: "It's great - it went to plan. I said to Ricky 'he likes to bowl along in front and jumping is his forte, so use him up'.
"I was a bit concerned about not getting a run into him. I said turning into the straight that we'd better start shouting, because I knew he'd stay going."
Winning trainer Dermot McLoughlin on the "rhythm" that Freewheelin Dylan showed in landing the @BoyleSports Irish Grand National #BoyleSportsIGN @Fairyhouse #rteracing @RTE2 @RTEplayer pic.twitter.com/vGMxMfQ3Xd
— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) April 5, 2021
McLoughlin added: "It's a race I always wanted to have runners in, let alone try to win it. My father (Liam McLoughlin) rode the winner in 1962 (Kerforo), so I was always trying to follow.
"We're based three miles down the road and we'll keep progressing the best we can.
"I was 47 the other day. We have good help and good staff and we have some nice horses.
"Coming here I thought we had a good chance and thankfully it's worked out."
It was a definitely a case of "I can't believe it" for Ricky Doyle as he made all to win the @BoyleSports Irish Grand National on Freewheelin Dylan #BoyleSportsIGN @Fairyhouse #rteracing @RTE2 @RTEplayer pic.twitter.com/biUySYhsBN
— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) April 5, 2021
"I could not believe it - I thought everything was too good to be true!," was the response from a delighted Ricky Doyle.
His jumping is just out of this world, but how well he travelled and the rhythm he was in (was unbelievable).
"Turning in I could feel horses on me and I could feel him picking up. I was trying to do the maths in my head and was thinking 'did I jump the last the first time'? I was in a dream the whole way.
"He's a proper summer ground horse. I won a Midlands National on him in the same way. I was just so happy with everything that I couldn't believe it.
"This means everything to me. I love this sport and I love horses - I couldn't care if there was nothing to the winner.
"I'm over the moon."
