Lion roars in National

Huge win for trainer with only five horses

Last updated: 9th April 2012   Subscribe to RSS Feed

National Hunt - Antepost. Click here to bet.

Lion na Bearnai

Lion Na Bearnai: Battles to victory in the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse

Related links

Also see

33-1 outsider Lion Na Bearnai gave trainer Tom Gibney his biggest success when winning the Ladbrokes Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.

The ten-year-old was involved in a protracted duel with the strong-travelling Out Now (14-1) but battled on bravely to score under conditional rider Andrew Thornton.

Alfie Sherrin (10-1) fared best of the British raiders in third with Paddy Pub (20-1) fourth.

Gibney said: "I only have the five horses and this is unbelievable, just brilliant.

"The last day was the real shock and we were confident coming here but we were afraid to say it.

Thornton Hailed

"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."

Thornton added: "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."