Gibney hoping Lion will deliver

Thomas Gibney is relying on Lion Na Bearnai to take his training career to the next level in the Crabbie's Grand National at Aintree.

It is getting on for 10 years since the 40-year-old County Meath-based handler first took out a licence and it is a sign of the times that despite showing off his skills by training Lion Na Bearnai to win the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse two years ago, he is still struggling to reach double figures with his string.

The trainer's progress took a major knock last season when a stable bug wiped out both his stable star and the rest of the yard, but there have been signs of a revival this term and his 12-year-old showed he retains all his old enthusiasm when striking gold back at Fairyhouse on his penultimate start.

Gibney said: "I've been into racing my whole life. My dad was a farmer who kept a few horses, bred a few horses and raced a few himself.

"I rode as an amateur for a good while and then the job came up as assistant trainer to Andrew Heffernan, so I went for that.

"I had no intention of training at that stage, but I was with Andrew for around five years, doing plenty, and I decided I'd have a go at it on my own.

"I started off in 2005 or 2006 and had four or five horses right through until we won the big race two years ago, so it was hard work, and it still is.

"Last season we were getting some good numbers as we were up to 15 or 16, but then we had a bad bug in the yard and it totally wiped us out.

"It was unbelievable really and it was almost like starting from scratch again after that. It was difficult, but you just have to get on with it and thankfully things have improved and most of the horses we've run this season have run well.

"We've got 10 in training at the moment, so I've doubled my numbers since Lion Na Bearnai won (the Irish Grand National)! It's tough work trying to make a living out of it at the moment and that's all I want. If I could get up to 40 or 50 horses, that would help us make a good living to provide for the family, so we'll see how it goes."

Gibney has worked with largely moderate horses during his training career so far and admits he never had reason to suspect Lion Na Bearnai was any different when he was running in handicap hurdles off ratings in the 90s five and six years ago.

"As a young horse he looked a very ordinary, run-of-the-mill handicap hurdler - just like the rest of my horses - but he was always a very honest horse," said Gibney.

"He always tried his heart out and usually gave the owners a good run for their money, finishing in the first five or six.

"I probably ran him too often. We were trying to get our name in the papers and let people know we were still going, so the horse was running nearly every fortnight.

"I did say to the owners whatever he did over hurdles would be a bonus and we wouldn't see the best of him until he went chasing, but I never dreamed he'd end up where he is now."

Following his Fairyhouse heroics in 2012, Gibney had hoped his charge would be lining up in the world's most famous steeplechase last season, but the timing of the bug in his yard ruined his chances of making the trip to Aintree.

"Lion had the two runs last season and had a terrible preparation," said the trainer.

"We took him to Newbury for the Hennessy Gold Cup on his first run, just to try and give him some experience travelling to England as much as anything, with a view to hopefully ending up at Aintree at the end of the season.

"Unfortunately it didn't work out, he wasn't right for most of the season and when he did come right, Aintree was gone.

"The only option left for him was the Scottish National. He probably wasn't ready enough and made a couple of mistakes, but when you enter a horse for a race like that you want to throw the dice.

"Like me, the owners don't have too many runners in races of that calibre, they'd been paying bills all season and even though the horse was probably only around 85 per cent ready, you want to have a go."

The current campaign, however, has seen Lion Na Bearnai in a much better light.

As well as his recent win at Fairyhouse, he has also run well over hurdles and was last seen finishing fourth, albeit beaten a fair way, behind subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up On His Own in the Bobbyjo Chase.

Gibney said: "He came back this season really well and had a good run over hurdles in Fairyhouse.

"He jumped badly the next day at Navan, which isn't like him, but I think he was probably remembering the mistakes he made in the Scottish National. He's a horse who is all about jumping in a rhythm, so we were fairly hopeful he'd run very well if he did that in Fairyhouse and we were delighted to see him win so well.

"He actually ran better than I thought he would until five out in the Bobbyjo. I thought if he was still with them at that stage, he'd come home well, so it was a bit disappointing he didn't.

"On paper he probably finished where he should have done, but I would have liked to have see him finish off a bit better than he did. He seems in good form since, though, and hopefully we'll get him to Aintree in top form."

His chances received a further boost with news that two-times champion jockey Davy Russell takes the ride, who was in inspired form on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival in March when he secured three winners, including the Gold Cup with Lord Windermere.

His handler said: "We've got Davy, which is great news. The jockey did pretty well the last time he came to England and he also rode the horse at Fairyhouse in February."