Lord Lariat won the Irish National at Fairyhouse. © Photo Healy Racing
Lord Lariat gave local trainer Dermot McLoughlin back-to-back wins in the Easter feature when running out a 40/1 winner of the Boylesports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.
The seven-year-old always raced up with the leaders before taking up the running turning for home.
From there, he fought off all comers under jockey Paddy O'Hanlon. It was particularly sweet for the winning trainer, as last year the crowds were absent when his Freewheelin Dylan caused a huge upset.
Twelve months on, the local crowds were in full voice as they shouted the winner home.
Winning jockey Paddy O'Hanlon said; "it's unbelievable, I'm over the moon.
"Thanks to Dermot and the owners for keeping faith with me.
"I was delighted to be here with a ride in the race. Dermot was quietly confident".
“Our plan was to jump him out but I was a bit concerned about getting the trip,” said McLoughlin.
“Obviously we wanted to get a start like we did last year and utilise his jumping as he is a good jumper.
“Paddy said he got plenty of breathers into him and it all worked out well.
“We've been aiming for this since before Christmas. He won a ladies race here in November when he ran away with the jockey, Joanna Walton, and she said then that he would get further. It was two-miles-six that day.
“We were lucky to get into it as well.
“We're ten minutes down the road, there was nobody here last year but my family and everyone is here this year, all the yard and it's unbelievable.
“Paddy started off with me five or six years ago, he was going to be a Flat jockey for a while.
“He went over to England and tried the Flat there but had no luck and came back and rode a couple of winners for me on the Flat.
“I said 'Paddy forget about the Flat, you're going to be a big lad' and he took to jumping like a duck to water.
“He won a couple of hurdle races and it went from there, he's flying now. He comes into us now two mornings a week.”
