Another Irish Grand National fairytale for Dermot McLoughlin
Lord Lariat wins the BoyleSports Irish Grand National. Picture: Niall Carson/PA
The Boylesports Irish Grand National seldom fails to deliver a story and last year’s 150-1 victory for Freewheelin Dylan would take some beating. Step forward his trainer, Dermot McLoughlin. Twelve months on, the local man with the progressive yard relied solely on 40-1 shot Lord Lariat, ridden by 7lb claimer Paddy O’Hanlon, and, quite remarkably, the result was just the same.
Consecutive successes are, as one would suspect, rarities in the season’s most competitive and valuable handicap chase, and in achieving such a feat, McLoughlin became the first trainer to do so since his former boss, Jim Dreaper, completed a three-timer in 1976. For O’Hanlon it was quite a way to end a barren spell with a first victory of the year.
