Freewheelin Dylan produces stunning 150-1 success in Irish Grand National
Ricky Doyle onboard Freewheelin Dylan celebrates winning the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse. Picture: INPHO/Morgan Treacy
The BoyleSports Irish Grand National’s continued ability to produce a fairytale was shown in all its glory when Freewheelin Dylan became the longest-priced winner in the history of the race, first run in 1870.
Such are the constraints of the pandemic, fewer than 370 people, all in attendance in a working capacity, were on site to witness this piece of history being made as Ricky Doyle, riding in the race for the first time, landed the €216,000 winner’s prize with an all-the-way success aboard the 150-1 chance.
The winner, bred by Liam Norris from Dungarvan, is trained just three miles from the track by Dermot McLoughlin, whose father rode the winner of the race 59 years ago, and is owned by Sheila Mangan, who works in the yard.
Doyle, who is based with Conor O’Dwyer, set out in front over the three-mile-five-furlong trip and his mount gave the boldest of sights as he attacked each fence with relish. It seemed fanciful to believe one of the rank outsiders could hold 27 rivals at bay, but as the race unfolded, it became increasingly likely.
The first and only genuine threat emerged when Run Wild Fred moved up menacingly at the second-last, but the leader was far from empty and his jumping held up to the applied pressure.
Better of the two over the last couple of fences, Freewheelin Dylan responded ever so generously to complete his all-the-way success, with Thyestes runner-up Run Wild Fred a gallant second once more and Enjoy D’allen running the race of his life to take third place. Top weight Latest Exhibition lost nothing in defeat under his relative welter burden, with Sempo an honourable fifth.
“I cannot believe it,” exclaimed Doyle. “First ride in the National, and I was delighted to ride him because of how well he jumps. I couldn’t wait for the race to come. I was looking forward to just having a spin in it.
“And Dermot McLoughlin: What a man. I’m after winning two Nationals for him on this horse (Midlands National, Kilbeggan, 2020).
“He jumps so much for fun that he’s able to take breathers everywhere. For the first lap, I was thinking ‘you need to spit it out’ because he was absolutely tanking with me. I thought, going three-five, if he gets them to the third-last, it’s going to be a cracker of a run.
“But turning in, I was trying to hear the lads snapping behind me, thinking no way am I going this easy in an Irish National on this lad. I couldn’t believe it.
“I obviously dreamt of this. After winning a Midlands National, in my head going to bed last night, that’s how I was going to ride him and how I was going to win it.
“For me growing up I’d be more associated with Nationals from being good friends with the Brassils (connection of 2005 winner Numbersixvalverde), it was all Nationals then — it wasn’t really Gold Cups — and these were the days where Martin would have runners, in Irish Nationals, and myself and (Martin’s son) Conor, as young lads, would go up just to be part of it. And I loved it.
Doyle was quick to thank his boss, Conor O’Dwyer, who has shown great faith in him, whilst also allowing him the latitude to work with others.
“I’m in such a lucky position in Conor’s,” he added. “He lets me ride everything in the yard. I work hard, and if anyone ever needs me on the Curragh, I don’t even have to ask Conor, I can just go, knowing everything is going to be alright.
“My career got off well on the Flat, but then slowed up a good bit and since I went to Conor, he just had so much trust and faith in me, he has brought me to these days. This is thanks to him and his owners, and his staff in the yard for helping me. This means a lot.”
The winning trainer, 47, was thrilled to follow in the family tradition, as his father, Liam, rode Kerforo to win the 1962 running, the third of seven consecutive wins in the race for trainer Tom Dreaper.
“It is a race I always wanted to have runners in, let alone try to win it, because my father rode the winner in 1962 so I was always trying to follow suit,” said McLoughlin. “I was fairly relaxed about it until we turned in, when I got a bit (excited).
“But it went to plan. I just said to Ricky that 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 (since October), but it went to plan.
“I said to the lads that we better start shouting for turning into the straight because I knew he’d stay going. It was nice to see a horse winging fences like that and enjoying himself as well. It was great.”
