Haiti Couleurs shines brightest in Irish National at Fairyhouse

Two winners for Gordon Elliott at Ratoath track

There was no joy for Meath connections in the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse today as Welsh raider Haiti Couleurs claimed the €270,000 winner's pot.

Trained by Rebecca Curtis and ridden by English Champion Jockey-elect, Sean Bowen the Cheltenham National Hunt Chase winner led from start to finish and held off the challenge of strong finishing Mark Walsh ridden Any Second Now to win by three and a quarter lengths at odds of 13/2.

11/2 favourite Quai De Bourbon was a further six and a half lengths back in third with Ian Donoghue's Dunboyne the best of the local runners seven lengths further back in fourth.

Gordon Elliott's charge Better Days Ahead was sixth for Noel and Valerie Moran of Bective Stud, just over a length ahead of stable mate Shecouldbeanything.

Kilmessan trainer Matthew Smith saddled Another Choice to eighth place with Elliott's Will Do 10th and Gavin Cromwell's pair Noble Birth and Malina Girls in 11th and 12th respectively.

Cromwell's fancied Bioluminescence was pulled up by Keith Donoghue.

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TWO WINNERS FOR ELLIOTT

Despite the disappointment in the National Elliott did saddle two winners in the two races prior to the big one with Maxxum taking the Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Hurdle and Found A Fifty claiming the Jack McInerney memorial Fairyhouse Chase.

Pulled up when last seen in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham, Maxxum was sent off a 14/1 chance and made a mistake three out but lost little momentum.

Ridden after the next, he found plenty for pressure and had three-quarters of a length to spare at the line.

Returned the 15/8 favourite, Gala Marceau kept on well but ultimately had to settle for second under Paul Townend for Willie Mullins.

"Danny gave the horse a beautiful ride. He missed the third last, but after that it was poetry in motion. He's a lovely, quiet rider and he suits this horse very well," said Elliott.

"In fairness, it just didn't happen (in the Coral Cup), he was slow away at the start in Cheltenham. He was good here today.

"Where we go with him, I don't know. He could be a horse to go to France, he's nearly better in a smaller field. We'll have a look and see. He's a good horse and he always wins on the big day."

Found A Fifty bounced back from a couple of below-par runs to land the Jack McInerney Memorial Fairyhouse Chase.

Gordon Elliott’s eight-year-old has a good career strike-rate, having won five of his 10 runs over fences before his latest outing.

Back down into Grade Two company he was sent off a 5-1 chance under Sam Ewing and could always be picked out as going well.

Saint Sam made a bold bid from the front but a mistake two out capped his momentum and Found A Fifty went on to win by three-quarters of a length.

“In fairness, things didn’t happen for him (at Cheltenham). To be fair, Grade Two and Grade Three are probably his level. A good performance, he mightn’t just be a Grade One horse,” said Elliott.

“If we keep him in that class next year, he could win loads of races. In fairness to Noel (Moran, Bective Stud), he let us take our time with him. Everything seemed to suit him today."