Lion Na Bearnai & Andrew Thornton with Tom Gibney & his brother Niall © Photo Healy Racing
Lion Na Bearnai (fill in the gaps is the translation from Irish) put in a tenacious performance under Andrew Thornton (got a 5 day whip ban) to land a famous success for Tom Gibney in the Ladbrokes Irish Grand National Chase at Fairyhouse.
A Grade 2 winner last time at 50/1, the ten-year-old went off at 33/1 here but he belied those odds to outstay the sweet-travelling Out Now (matched at 1/7 in running) by four and a half lengths with Alfie Sherrin and Paddy Pub filling the placings. Leanne the only mare in the line-up came home in fifth.
A spokesman for the winning owners, the Lock Syndicate, explained: "We bought him 5 years ago for 9,000 at Tattersalls. There are 7 in the syndicate and Tom is a brilliant trainer – an old school type who gives his horses time."
Only training for a couple of years Tom Gibney commented: "I only have the five horses and this is unbelievable, just brilliant.
"The last day was the real shock (got a 27Ib hike in the ratings for that to bring him into the race) and we were confident coming here but we were afraid to say it.
"Andrew is a brilliant rider – much under-rated and he gave him a copybook ride, the whole thing was copybook. He is only a pony and anyone could ride him at home."
Meanwhile Andrew Thornton (31yo from Navan, this was his biggest winner) said: "That's absolutely unbelievable and full credit to the horse.
"He is tough and he jumped like a stag. He is very gutsy and never put a foot wrong. I was squeezed for room at the fence in front of the stands but otherwise everything went great through the race." (MG & EM)
