Racing:Nina Carberry delighted the huge Easter Monday crowd at Fairyhouse by winning her first Ladbrokes Irish Grand National on Organisedconfusion. To make the success all the more sweeter, the winner was trained by Arthur Moore, Carberry's uncle.
Her family are no strangers to success in the race, with father and son, Tommy and Paul Carberry, combining to win with Bobbyjo in 1998. Moore was also savouring Irish National glory for a third time, having ridden Kings Sprite to victory in 1971 and having trained Feathered Gale in 1996.
But this race will always be remembered for the exploits of the winning jockey as the amateur bided her time off a generous pace to bring the 12-1 chance home in front of Western Charmer, with the JP McManus duo of Sunnyhillboy and Quiscover Fontaine in behind.
Carberry executed her challenge to absolute perfection on the inexperienced six-year-old. Deal Done helped force a generous pace and despite being headed by Hughies Grey at halfway, he found himself back in front inside the final half a mile.
Deal Done’s stablemate, Western Charmer, loomed up and looked a huge threat. There were also plenty of other horses in with chances at the second-last, including Tony McCoy on Quantitativeeasing.
But it was Carberry who finished the strongest in the Fairyhouse sunshine, beating Western Charmer by five lengths. Sunnyhillboy stayed on well to take third, with Quiscover Fontaine in fourth.
Organisedconfusion is the first six-year-old to be successful since Tartan Ace in 1973, and Carberry is only the second woman to win the Irish National after Ann Ferris in 1984.
“I’m delighted,” said Carberry. “They had faith in me and gave me great instructions to just go out and enjoy yourself — hopefully go down the inside and get a bit of light. He made a few little mistakes but was as safe as houses and I’m glad I got the opportunity.”
Voler La Vedette (11-8 favourite) was a thrilling winner of the Keelings Irish Strawberry Hurdle. Colm Murphy’s mare cruised into the lead and appeared to have the race won but Ruby Walsh was travelling just as well on Blackstairmountain.
Walsh took it up at the final flight but, as he has done before, Blackstairmountain pulled himself up in front, allowing Andrew Lynch a second bite of the cherry which he did not pass up.
“She looked like she was going to do it really easy, but when she got there she thought she’d done enough,” said Murphy. “She’s in the three-mile (ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle) and the two-mile (Rabobank Champion Hurdle) but I imagine the three-mile looks the obvious one.”
For the second day running Noel Meade and Paul Carberry were the beneficiaries of some sloppy jumping by a major rival as Prima Vista swooped late to land the Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Novice Hurdle.
On Sunday it was Realt Dubh who looked held in the Powers Gold Cup when Noble Prince fell, and this time 2-1 favourite Rathlin made bad blunders at the final two flights.
Dare To Doubt set out to make all of the running, but Davy Russell was intent on not letting him get too far clear aboard Rathlin.
Rathlin appeared to have his measure until he demolished the final hurdle, which paved the way for Carberry to bring home Prima Vista (5-2) to win by a length and three-quarters.
Danny Mullins produced Marlay Park (12-1) with a perfectly-timed run to hold off Kerb Appeal and win the Irish Field Handicap Hurdle. The finish was a real Mullins affair as Danny was riding for his mother, Mags, and Kerb Appeal is trained by Willie.
Simonsig (11-4 favourite) looks a very bright prospect for Ian Ferguson after his effortless win in the Irish Racing Post Champion Point-To-Point Bumper. Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary offered winning owner Ronnie Bartlett €100,000 for Simonsig but the bid was refused.
Ferguson said: “I’ll speak to the owner, but he might move on to a bigger trainer in England now.”
Un Hinged (9-1) came with a late rattle to win the Most Stylish Lady Novice Handicap Chase for John Coleman and David Casey.