Lion Na Bearnai puts in another fine jump at the last, with Competitive Edge trying to challenge© Photo Healy Racing
The Crabbie’s Grand National could be on the agenda for Lion Na Bearnai who returned to the scene of his greatest triumph to land the featured 2m5f rated chase at Fairyhouse.
Tom Gibney’s charge recorded a famous victory in the 2012 Ladbrokes Irish Grand National but has been very lightly-raced since, and was coming here off the back of a disappointing run at Navan last month.
However the 12-year-old put in a great round of jumping under Andrew Lynch, and kept on really well on the run-in to belie his position as 14/1 outsider in this five-runner affair.
The 6/5 favourite Competitive Edge made a number of mistakes to finish four lengths back in second, with Shrapnel a neck further back in third.
A delighted Gibney said, “I said to the lads (Lock Syndicate) beforehand even though they were giving him no chance, if he jumped, he’d be there or thereabouts. That's exactly how it turned out and he loves this place.
“It’s great to still have him and for him to still be showing that ability. He’s felt good all season. We were delighted with his first run over hurdles but he was disappointing last time. He didn’t jump well which isn’t like him at all.
“If he hadn’t run well here and was dropped a few pounds we might have thought about coming back here for the Irish National. He’s in at Aintree and hopefully we’ll head there.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
