Racing: Butler's Cabin supplemented his Cheltenham Festival success with a memorable victory in the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.
The Jonjo O'Neill-trained seven-year-old, a 14-1 chance, travelled supremely well and ghosted into the lead after a clean leap at the final fence.
Tony McCoy's mount stayed on in resolute fashion to defeat Ferdy Murphy's Nine De Sivola by a length.
American Jennie was third, while long-term leader Church Island plugged on for fourth spot under Andrew McNamara.
It was a fine training performance by O'Neill, as the gelding collapsed with exhaustion after the line following his victory at the Festival and yet just 25 days later landed one of the biggest prizes of the season.
The field were taken along in the early stages by Dix Villez, along with Church Island, but a whole host of the principals were waiting in behind to make their move.
There were a dozen with chances at the second-last, including the well-backed Kings Advocate.
But McCoy had every moved covered on the JP McManus-owned gelding and he had enough in the tank to fend off the determined challenge of Murphy's charge after the last.
The disappointments of the race were Nicky Henderson's Juveigneur and the top-weight Cane Brake, who was never travelling.
Butler's Cabin again failed to make it to the winner's enclosure, but a delighted O'Neill said: "The horse is grand now. It (exhaustion) happens all the time as he gets a bit excited.
"He's a great jumper and he had a great spin round. He jumped away well and it all went right for him.
"I didn't have to do that much to him - the horse did all of the work. He's in the Betfred (Gold Cup) but I imagine it would be next year before you see him again."
Butler's Cabin was handed a 33-1 quote for the 2008 John Smith's Grand National and O'Neill added: "All being well, we'll look forward to Aintree next year."
McCoy added: "We got a good clear run and he was always travelling well, which you need in a handicap like this.
"He travelled and jumped better than most. I won on him over two and a half miles at Cheltenham in the autumn and he showed plenty of speed.
"He then won over four miles at Cheltenham, which showed he stayed.
"Any horse that can win over four miles at Cheltenham and then win an Irish National is obviously very special."
Murphy was gracious in defeat after Nine De Sivola's narrow reverse.
He said: "He probably should have won the four-miler at Cheltenham (he fell in the National Hunt Chase) and it's amazing for the winner (Butler's Cabin) to have come here and won again.
"Graham (Lee) said he wanted to go and switch him out wide two out but he's glad he didn't.
"He could never quite get to him at the last as he (the winner) kept quickening in front. He keeps pulling out fresh so the Scottish National could be a possibility."
Tony Dobbin was taken to Blanchardstown Hospital with a suspected fractured arm after he was brought down on Cloudy Lane.
Cheeky Lady, A New Story and Dix Villez were also involved in the unsightly pile-up three out.