Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase (Grade 1) | 3m½f | 5yo+ | RTE2/RTV
This is no ordinary novice chase; this is extraordinary stuff. We get a sneak peek of what next season s Cheltenham Gold Cup might look like 11 months ahead of plan as Envoi Allen and Monkfish go head to head in what promises to be the showdown of the season.
They have raced a total of 21 times and have 18 wins between them. Monkfish has already won four Grade 1s, Envoi Allen has five. The official handicapper thinks there is 1lb between them at present with the Henry de Bromhead-trained seven-year-old marginally better in his book.
Grade 1 Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase to run at Punchestown Festival next week leinsterleader.ie - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from leinsterleader.ie Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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History was made at Fairyhouse racecourse in Ireland yesterday (5 April) when Freewheelin Dylan became the biggest priced winner of the BoyleSports Irish Grand National at a staggering 150-1.
Ridden by Ricky Doyle, the nine-year old, trained by Dermot A McLoughlin and owned by Sheila Mangan who works for the trainer, led from start to finish to land the shock victory.
“It’s unbelievable. I was excited to ride him because of how well he jumps but winning it is something I’ve dreamt about. It’s madness,” said an ecstatic 26-year-old Ricky, who was having his first ride in this race and who recorded his best tally over jumps in Ireland last season with 16 winners. “This is the best day of my life by far – I cannot believe it.”
150-1 Outsider Becomes Highest-Priced Irish Grand National Winner In History Sponsored by:
Jockey Ricky Doyle kisses 150-1 Irish Grand National winner Freewheelin Dylan
Bob Dylan once wrote “If You Gotta Go, Go Now,” and that s exactly what Rickie Doyle did to upset the odds to claim BoyleSports Irish Grand National success at Fairyhouse.
The 150-1 outsider Freewheelin Dylan was considered nothing more than an also-ran heading into Monday s main event, with all eyes on Bryan Cooper on Latest Exhibition and Run Wild Fred under Jack Kennedy before the race kicked off.
But the rest of the field were left Blowin in the Wind as the longer the race went on, with Doyle holding his nerve to steer the rank outsider to success on the highest stage.
150/1 shot Freewheelin Dylan wins the Irish Grand National
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Freewheelin Dylan ridden by Ricky Doyle goes on to win The BoyleSports Irish Grand National Chase - at 150/1!
Credit:
PA Wire
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Grand National week started with a huge shock when Freewheelin Dylan, a 150-1 shot, lived up to his name and make all the running to win the Irish equivalent, the Boylesports Irish National, at Fairyhouse on Monday.
Front running is all about the jumping and every time the nine-year-old, trained locally by Dermot McLoughlin and ridden by Ricky Doyle, looked like getting swamped by more fancied horses he would take another length out of the field with his jumping.