Duke takes Irish National in impressive style

Our Duke crowned a memorable month for trainer Jessica Harrington and rider Robbie Power when landing the Boylesports Irish Grand National in superb fashion at Fairyhouse this afternoon.

The pair combined to take the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup with Sizing John, the highlight of three winners at Prestbury Park, and their golden run continued in this half million euro event with the heavily backed 9/2 favourite.

The seven-year-old novice travelled strongly to lead before four out, and stayed on strongly in the straight.

Power’s mount came home all of 14 lengths clear of Bless The Wings who was filling the runner-up spot for the second successive year, with Abolitionist another three quarters of a length away in third.

The 2015 winner Thunder And Roses finished a gallant fourth, with another Gigginstown-owned gelding General Principle in fifth.

It was a first win in the race for both Harrington and local rider Power.

What a few weeks it's been for Robbie Power and @Jessica_Racing! Our Duke wins the Irish Grand National in great style at @Fairyhouse: pic.twitter.com/MLRPGSUVlM

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 17, 2017

Harrington said, “I can’t believe it, I really can’t. I may look calm but I’m shaking inside! He was up there all the way, he may have made one mistake but he jumped beautifully and Robert rode him with such confidence. He was absolutely convinced that he was going to stay and he rode him like that.

“He actually loved the ground as I was a bit worried about it drying out. I could see the three of them were going away and he just kept going. At the fourth last the pack seemed to be closing and he just changed gear again. I knew he was so relaxed and Robbie knows him so well. For a horse having just his fourth run in a chase it was a great performance.

“We all have to get there but he looks a Gold Cup horse. That’s why he didn’t go to Cheltenham this year as we wanted to wait and go to the Gold Cup next year. We’ll keep him and Sizing John apart and see what happens. I haven’t raced him much and he has very few runs under his belt.

“It’s hard to comprehend winning the Gold Cup and the Irish National. It’s taken me a long time to get the hang of training these staying chasers!

“Robbie rode his first ever winner for me. We get on very well. I give out to him if he does something wrong but he doesn’t do much wrong these days.”

Power said, "This means so much to me, it's my local racecourse and I was second in it a few years ago so this is nice compensation. He is a hell of a good horse. He is very, very good.

"He made a few novicey little mistakes, but full credit to all the team at Commonstown. Jessie has done some job to train this horse to win an Irish National on only his fourth start over fences.

"Once he got a good view of his fences and got plenty of light we were going to be happy. He just travelled so well everywhere, he is just a very good horse.

"Fair play to Fairyhouse as well they done a super job watering the ground because otherwise he wouldn't have been here. Full marks all round to everyone.

"Hopefully I'll have a tough decision to make next March (for the Gold Cup), but who knows, we'll enjoy this one first."

Our Duke is 14/1 with Boylesports for the 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup but just 12/1 with Paddy Power.