Davids Lad won the 2001 Powers Grand National at Fairyhouse this afternoon, overhauling Rathbawn Prince in a thrilling race.
The 10/1 shot took the £130,000 top prize with Rathbourne Prince in second and Sheltering hanging on for third. Kings Valley came fourth.
Kieran Kelly made his move on Rathbawn Prince three fences from home and looked to have built a big enough lead to hang on for victory.But Davids Lad was not to be outdone and caught the leader just after the final fence.
Jockey Timmy Murphy had timed the move to perfection and Davids Lad had enough in the tank to take the win comfortably at the death.
Top weight and defending champion Commanche Court was fifth with the 4/1 favourite Foxchapel King in sixth.
Murphy was quick to praise trainer Tony Martin and his staff.
"All credit to Tony Martin and the lads," he told reporters. "They had him absolutely bouncing...he travelled nearly too well.
"I was worried whether he would get the trip but thankfully he did."
Martin said: "The race itself is like the Olympics. It's like the biggest race of the year. But we were all hoping that we'd have a clear run. It's great it worked out.
"I was afraid that something would go wrong and he'd be brought down or something."
There had been doubts whether as a seven-year-old novice Davids Lad would last out the course.
Martin confessed: "I don't think he'd have got the trip on heavy ground and it was only when the weather looked so good that we confirmed he would run."