It took a year but jockey Tom Rudd's Jameson Irish Grand National agony turned to ecstasy at Fairyhouse yesterday when Glebe Lad galloped to glory in Ireland's richest jump race.
In the 1998 National, Rudd sustained a fractured arm in a fall which kept him on the sidelines for four months. That fall came off Ontheroadagain and yesterday that horse's half-brother Glebe Lad made amends with a three-length defeat of Feathered Leader and Manus The Man.
"My best moment in racing," said the exhultant 27-year-old rider who was engulfed by fans of Glebe Lad, one of five 8/1 co-favourites in the £125,000 race.
The winning trainer Michael O'Brien, who is confined to a wheelchair, was not at Fairyhouse but speaking from his home said that Glebe Lad did not have an ideal preparation.
Glebe Lad sustained a kick on the shoulder from another horse at the Curragh races nine days ago and received laser treatment and antibiotics before taking a swim yesterday morning in Michael Kinane's equine swimming pool.
"It wasn't an ideal preparation and I think he might go for the Whitbred at Sandown next providing the ground doesn't dry out," said O'Brien who was winning the Irish National for the third time.
Glebe Lad showed no ill-effects as Rudd gave him a patient ride from the rear of the field. The topweight Papillon and the English-trained pair of Rightsaidfred and Druids Brook were prominent along with the Punchestown specialist Risk Of Thunder, but from the third last Glebe Lad took over after a smooth run up the inner.
Immediately the novices Feathered Leader and Manus The Man took up the chase. Feathered Leader appeared to be travelling best of all and possibly touched down after the last just ahead but Glebe Lad stayed on the better for a famous Easter Monday success.
"I'm up there somewhere," said Glebe Lad's Co Laois owner-breeder Tim Conway, pointing to the sky. "I think I'll be floating off the stand after this. My wife kept telling me this horse was special and you don't argue with that!"
Rudd, who attracted some punters' ire when beaten on Glebe Lad at Leopardstown in February, grinned: "I probably should have won on him that day but I think I made it up to him now."
The Tipperary-born jockey added: "I had a nice run and maybe got to the front too soon. He was idling and probably wanted company but when he heard the others he quickened again."
Feathered Leader ran a fine race for a novice and trainer Arthur Moore was not inclined to blame a lack of stamina for his defeat. "If the winner wasn't there everyone would be saying how well he stayed. It was a great run and he was beaten by a very good horse. The ground may have had more to do with it than stamina," Moore said.
Manus The Man's trainer Michael Cunningham said: "He missed out the second last and the ground may have been a shade fast but he's run a tremendous race for a novice."
Risk Of Thunder, owned by movie legend Sean Connery, will return to Punchestown for the La Touche Cup and Enda Bolger quipped: "I just hope I don't get lost around there! He's run great and it would be nice if his owner could see him run at Punchestown."
The topweight Papillon was virtually pulled up and was found to be lame while the English fancy Celtic Giant never figured and was pulled up in the straight. After a fall from Rightsaidfred at the third last, Graham Bradley was taken to Blanchardstown Hospital where a dislocated right shoulder was put back in. The Turf Club medical officer said: "He is in a lot of pain."
Tom Rudd left Fairyhouse in pain last year but Glebe Lad allowed him to float home last night.
