Soldier In Milan wins Irish Grand National

Soldier In Milan belied his inexperience with a stunning victory in the Boylesports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.

The Emmet Mullins-trained seven-year-old had run just five times under rules heading into the Easter Monday feature, a sequence incorporating a Punchestown Festival bumper success last spring followed by four runs over fences this season.

While he was beaten into fourth as a hot favourite for a Grade 3 novice chase at Thurles last month, confidence was clearly high ahead of this acid test as he was a well supported 6-1 favourite as the tapes went up and he raced up with the pace throughout under Donagh Meyler.

After taking over the lead from British raider Monbeg Genius leaving the back straight for the final time, Soldier In Milan tanked his way to the third fence from home and the heavy fall of his nearest pursuer and chief market rival Kiss Will left him clear.

Showurappreciation and The Enabler did their best to bridge the gap, but neither were able to lay a glove on the hugely impressive winner, who passed the post with 16 lengths in hand, seeing him earn a quote of 33-1 for next year's Cheltenham Gold Cup.

"Obviously there was no hiding it, I had a lot of ups and down this season with horses not winning and getting beat on horses and getting beat in stewards rooms," Meyler told RTÉ Sport.

"Look it, this makes up for it all. We're (Mullins) up there numbers wise, it’s our best season and this is just unbelievable."

Soldier In Milan took over from long-time front-runner Monbeg Genius five out from the finish, and in the end it was all too comfortable.

"He travelled everywhere," Melyer said of the horse.

"He travelled too well, he jumped too sweet throughout and I landed in front five out and I could just hear Emmet chawing the ear off me in my own mind.

"He’s a class horse, class trainer, class owner (Paul Byrne), I’m just so lucky to be involved."

"It hasn't really hit home yet. I was pinching myself jumping the last with a lap to go, he was jumping and travelling and everything was going very smoothly," winning trainer Mullins told RTÉ Sport..

"The biggest worry was bypassing the fourth last and hitting the front.

"I had warned Donagh that if everything is going right to wait as long as he can. He executed everything brilliantly, it was a brilliant ride.

"Leaving out a hurdle campaign was a risk, I suppose. We always hoped he had the class to overcome the inexperience.

"He was smart out the gate and into gear. Fingers crossed we think he could be a classy individual."

He went on: "He was fit and well. Funnily enough, I know he went off favourite, but I told Paul 'everything is good, he’s happy, he’s healthy, he’s fit but I’ve seen him in better order’.

"I was only 95 per cent. I was 100 per cent happy last year going for the bumper in Punchestown and that proved to be very strong form, beating King Rasko Grey.

"Fingers crossed we can get him back 100 percent again some other day."

Additional reporting: PA