Lion Na Bearnai roars to
50-1 success in Ten Up

Report: Navan, Sunday

Irish Form Book Ten Up Novice Chase (Grade 2) 3m, 5yo+

LION NA BEARNAI rallied gamely in the final few yards to hold off the Gigginstown House Stud battalions and land a surprise 50-1 success under jockey Andrew Thornton for trainer Thomas Gibney.

Berties Dream, winner of the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Hurdle at the 2010 Cheltenham Festival, was sent straight to the lead and jumped soundly out in front for rider Andrew Lynch.

Lynch upped the pace on Berties Dream, headed out into the second circuit and, after initially going clear, he was gradually caught by the pack turning for home.

Tired, Berties Dream's jumping slackened leaving Lion Na Bearnai and the Gigginstown trio of Crash, Start Me Up and Four Commanders to fight it out.

Ruby Walsh, who had hung out at the back nursing Start Me Up around, sprung into action and looked to have it sewn up but he was passed by a strong finish for Lion Na Bearnai and pipped to second by Four Commanders.

The success for Lion Na Bearnai, owned by the Lock Syndicate, comes a week after Benefficient also sprang a 50-1 shock in a novice contest in Ireland when taking the Grade 1 Deloitte Hurdle.