Brain Power strikes to give Henderson a first National success at Far Hills

Nicky Henderson laid his Grand National ghost to rest when Brain Power scored by 15 lengths in the valuable American Grand National at Far Hills.

The Michael Buckley-owned gelding, who won the International Hurdle in December but subsequently pulled up twice in the spring, was always travelling well under Nico de Boinville and pulled clear of Scorpiancer following Wicklow Brave's fatal fall at the final fence.

On a warm afternoon in New Jersey, Irish-trained horses were expected to dominate, but the prize went to the Lambourn trainer, who had remarkably not won a National of any kind.

De Boinville said afterwards: "He placed me wherever I wanted to be. He jumped very well, and he ran very well."

Jury Duty, last year's winner for Gordon Elliott, finished 18 and a half lengths back in fourth, a neck ahead of the former Alan King-trained Redicean in fifth.

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