By Damien Maher
In another outstanding achievement, Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud landed the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse race- course on Easter Monday to complete a memorable double.
Rogue Angel, an eight-year-old, trained by Mouse Morris, and ridden by conditional jockey, Ger Fox, produced a game front running performance to take the honours in a thrilling finish, holding off the Ruby Walsh ridden Bless the Wings. Victory ensures O’Leary holds the Gold Cup and Irish National, while Rogue Angel looks set for Aintree on Saturday in a bid to win the most famous race on the National Hunt calendar.
Significantly, a Westmeath horse, All Sorts, won the Irish National in 1916 and O’Leary’s redoubtable star stole the show 100 years on. The prestigious €275,000 three-mile, five furlong Fairyhouse feature can often have a fairytale ending and it didn’t disappoint on Monday.
Michael O’Leary missed Monday’s race due to holidays, but his brother, Eddie O’Leary, who looks after Gigginstown, was delighted. “It’s equally thrilling to win this race and it was a fantastic training performance by Mouse Morris. He made it look easy,” he remarked.
“CAN’T BELIEVE IT”
The winning jockey was delighted with the victory following a photo finish.
“I’m still pinching myself – I can’t believe it. This is my local track and I’m just trying to take it all in; it’s brilliant,” said Ger Fox.
“I’ve only ridden him twice and he’s given me a Kerry National and an Irish National. My thanks go to Mouse Morris and Michael and Eddie O’Leary (of Gigginstown House Stud) for giving me the chance on him again.
“I did what I did in the Kerry National, just jumped out in front and let him do his own thing. He jumped from fence to fence and I think he only made two mistakes on the way round.
“What he has is guts and when he got headed, he battled back and got back up again. He never gives up. This means the world to me. Rides are getting slim at the moment, so to get something like this should be a great help.”
Morris, who rode Billycan to win the Irish National in 1977 and trained Hear The Echo to claim the prestigious prize in 2008, paid tribute to his late son, Christopher, who tragically died last summer from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning while travelling in South America.
“It’s unbelievable. Tiffer (Christopher) was looking down on me today. He helped me there. That’s just special,” said Morris.
It’s a remarkable achievement for O’Leary on what was a historic day at Fairyhouse and it follows his success in the same race with Hear The Echo in 2008.
