McLoughlin reflects on double National success Dermot McLoughlin has been reflecting on RTE Radio this morning about becoming the first man to win back-to-back Irish Grand Nationals for 46 years. He said: "We've been lucky, we've had some nice horses. I really like training staying chasers and we are lucky that we have a few horses that need three miles plus. "Freewheelin Dylan (last year's winner at 150/1) obviously ran well last week in the English National (in seventh) and this fella (Lord Lariat at 40/1) yesterday. It is grand to have them. "Lord Lariat only got into the race last week, I think he was number three in the ballot so he just snuck in at the bottom. We were quietly confident - we put him aside before Christmas and said we would leave him be and if he got into the Irish National we would have a go at it. We gave him a break and we freshened him up. "Big field of runners and you need a bit of luck in running. Paddy (O'Hanlon) was on the ball. I left it in his hands and he gave him a great ride, and got breathers into him at the right time. "I've been going to Fairyhouse since I was six or seven years of age. My father rode the winner of it in 1962 (on Kerforo for Tom Dreaper) and I worked for Jim Dreaper for 15 years myself, so there's a long list of history with good horses. "It is hard to get a horse into it let alone win it but, when I sit down today and watch it back with the family, I will probably give myself a tap on the back." Jim Dreaper won three Irish Grand Nationals in a row from 1974 - 1976. When asked to compare and contrast winning this year's showpiece with last year's which took place behind closed doors, the trainer said: "Unbelievable, my wife and my two kids were there yesterday, and my neighbours, and a lot of the staff from the yard were with us. "It was a huge difference from last year. Surreal stuff. We've been galloping horses this morning in Fairyhouse and it feels surreal."
