Hiding in plain sight or a fluke? How a 150-1 shot won the Irish National

Had the 2021 Irish Grand National been staged on soft or heavy ground, you could probably have added another zero to Freewheelin Dylan's starting price.

The winning time was only 0.5 seconds slower than that posted by Burrows Saint in 2019 on what was officially good to yielding ground. It was over a minute and 14 seconds quicker than the 2018 edition won by General Principle on heavy ground.

The key to Freewheelin Dylan certainly seems to be ground conditions. He has only once raced on ground worse than soft and that saw him pulled up at Punchestown over three years ago.

Members can watch Freewheelin Dylan's remarkable Irish National win here

His biggest win before the Fairyhouse fairytale was the Midlands National at Kilbeggan last July. That was won on good to yielding ground and achieved off a mark of 135, just 2lb lower than the rating he ran off on Easter Monday.

The career of Freewheelin Dylan has not followed a traditional path. He went from point-to-points into a Listowel hunters chase and never actually ran in a bumper. He was 0-8 over hurdles.

Freewheelin Dylan: also won the Midlands National at Kilbeggan last yearCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

There were a few reasons for his huge price. The quality of the fare was number one. With a top-notch novice like Latest Exhibition in the line-up and the Thyestes 1-2 in Coko Beach and Run Wild Fred, as well as a whole host of unexposed chasers, it looked a very competitive renewal.

Freewheelin Dylan was also returning from a 173-day absence. That said, the last time he returned from such a big absence – 196 days – he won the Midlands National. Freshness was a help, not a hindrance as it turns out.

The last time we saw Freewheelin Dylan was at Punchestown in October when he was 50-1 and beaten 50 lengths into last by The Storyteller.

Prior to that he was beaten 23 lengths into ninth in the Kerry National and was 39 lengths behind the winner in a 3m handicap hurdle at Bellewstown in August. All three of those tame efforts were on soft ground, however.

RTE commentator Richard Pugh brought Ruby Walsh in for his view halfway through the race on Monday and he said the winner was going to come from the first six. He was spot on. The winner came from the first one. Freewheelin Dylan dominated and was not harassed. That seldom happens in big handicaps.

Freshness, an uncontested lead and ground conditions combined to create history. A 150-1 winner of the Irish Grand National. Not if he was 1,500-1 would I have backed him beforehand.

Read more on the action at Fairyhouse:

Freewheelin Dylan becomes biggest-priced Irish National winner ever at 150-1

'I backed him at 66-1, 100-1 and 150-1' - owner confident bookies had it wrong

There's definitely no kidding now! Jeff proves himself with stylish Grade 2 win

David Jennings: There weren't many of us here to see it - but I can confirm it really did happen (Members' only)

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