Numbersixvalverde wins Irish Grand National
Numbersixvalverde got up in the dying strides in a thrilling finish to the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse today.
Ruby Walsh made steady headway in the second half of the marathon contest on the Martin Brassil-trained nine-year-old before bringing him to the front after jumping the last.
The 9-1 shot then ran on too strongly for the leg-weary Jack High (10-1), last year’s runner-up Marcus Du Berlais (9-1) and Howaya Pet (33-1).
Turning for home in the €250,000 contest it looked as though Kymandjen was going to land a heroic pillar-to-post success, but John Cullen's mount weakened as the challengers stacked up behind him, and he lost the lead at the second-last.
Jack High, trained by Walsh’s father Ted, then looked booked for success as he took the advantage, but Walsh junior got Thyestes Chase winner Numbersixvalverde to dig deep and he ran on too strongly for his 25 rivals.
What Odds was sent off the 8-1 favourite, but despite being handy throughout did not play a hand in the finish, while JP McManus’s three runners – Heroic, Kadoun and Le Coudray – could not manage a place.
Jack High and Marcus Du Berlais were both cut in the betting for the John Smith's Grand National on Saturday week, with William Hill trimming the former to 25-1, while the latter is now 33-1.
