'He always thought this was a serious horse' - Lord Lariat owners eye up Aintree

Lord Lariat's victory at odds of 40-1 caught many by surprise in Monday's Irish Grand National but not joint-owner Pat Blake, who revealed connections have long viewed their hero as a horse with the potential to win a major prize.

There were major celebrations around County Meath in the aftermath of a remarkable second consecutive triumph in the race for local trainer Dermot McLoughlin, who was producing more Fairyhouse magic after Freewheelin Dylan's 150-1 shock in 2021.

McLoughlin's latest stable star hails from extremely humble beginnings, having gone unsold at €2,800 as a yearling before being bought by joint-owner PJ Casey for just €5,500 as a three-year-old.

He had already been broken at the time and is by Golden Lariat, who retired rated 83 after winning a Bath maiden and Newmarket handicap for Sir Michael Stoute in the early 2000s.

The US-bred son of Mr Prospector stands as a dual-purpose sire of jumps and sport horses at Tullaghansleek Stud in County Westmeath and is also responsible for last year's Scottish Grand National second Dingo Dollar.

Pat Blake (right): 'From four out I felt we were probably home and dried'Credit: Caroline Norris

Monday's success capped a rags-to-riches journey for Lord Lariat, whose dam won three of her 26 point-to-point starts and has seemingly never bred another winner.

In the space of less than 22 months, the seven-year-old has progressed from winning a Tipperary handicap hurdle off a mark of 93 to landing Ireland's biggest chase worth €500,000.

Blake told the Racing Post: "PJ always said there was a big pot in this horse and it was there on Monday. He always thought this was a serious horse and had him for his point-to-point run. I honestly think if Golden Lariat had some of the better mares he could have been a serious sire.

Watch: Lord Lariat's stunning success in the Irish Grand National

"Lord Lariat was a very good-looking horse as a youngster, had a great walk and would catch your eye. We're just so proud of him. He's never let us down."

He added: "Dermot was sweet on the horse. He knows the time of day and I think there were a good few happy people around the place on Monday night. I wouldn't be a big gambling man myself but had a couple of pounds on him.

"He had a handy weight and got a great ride – Paddy [O'Hanlon] couldn't have done anything better. From four out I felt we were probably home and dried."

Lord Lariat: provided Paddy O'Hanlon with the biggest day in his riding careerCredit: Patrick McCann

Tullaghansleek Stud's Tim Carey believes Lord Lariat could easily have made a career for himself under a different code had his racing career not taken off.

Victory in the 150th running of the Irish Grand National had added significance for Tullaghansleek as it was the second time a stallion from the operation had sired a winner of the race following Lion Na Bearnai, by the ill-fated New Frontier, in 2012.

Carey said: "If Lord Lariat was a three-year-old today I would have no problem in saying that he could go to the RDS [Dublin Horse Show] and be champion young horse – that's how good-looking he is. He's a special, special type to look at, everything is in proportion."

Freewheelin Dylan finished seventh in this year's Grand National at Aintree after his Fairyhouse triumph 12 months ago and Blake suggested Lord Lariat could also be Liverpool-bound in 2023.

"I'd imagine Aintree is on the radar," he said. "The way he did on Monday, it's in the back of our minds now."

Read more on the Irish Grand National . . .

'To do it again is unbelievable' - McLoughlin springs another Fairyhouse stunner

Ruby Walsh: 'If Dermot fancied one and rang you to ride it, you rode it'

Golden day for Lord Lariat at Fairyhouse as cheap sales purchase scoops huge pot

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