Racing: G V A Ireland needed bags of stamina to justify favouritism in the John Smith's Midlands Grand National Chase under Ruby Walsh at Uttoxeter today.
The eight-year-old, trained in Ireland by Francis Flood, revelled in the testing conditions to repel Ossmoses and lift the Listed prize at odds of 5-1.
Walsh, who was crowned top jockey at the Cheltenham Festival, was always close to the pace in the extended four-mile slog as Martin Pipe’s Control Man made most of the early running.
But once Pipe’s eight-year-old fell by the wayside - and with the rest of the field struggling in the Midlands mud - an intriguing battle ensued between Ossmoses and G V A Ireland.
There was little between them as the pair jumped the penultimate fence but Walsh always had a little extra up his sleeve and bounded clear after a fine leap at the last to record a four-length success from Don Forster’s charge.
The Paul Nicholls-trained L’Aventure finished third, 14 lengths further in arrears, while Victory Gunner was fourth.
"We had hoped to come across for the Eider Chase (at Newcastle) but his blood was wrong," said Francis Flood junior, son of the winning trainer.
"We don’t get four-milers in Ireland and we thought he was crying out for the trip.
"Ruby was very impressed with how he jumped and thinks he could come back next year for the English National - we’ll stick him in the Irish National this time though.
Walsh added: "He jumped well and travelled well and had no weight on his back."