Soldier In Milan Stuns Rivals with Impressive Irish Grand National Victory

In a remarkable display of skill and speed, Soldier In Milan defied his lack of experience to claim a stunning win in the Boyle Sports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse. Trained by Emmet Mullins, the seven-year-old had only five starts under his belt prior to this event, including a successful bumper at Punchestown Festival last spring and four outings over fences this season. Despite being beaten into fourth place as a strong favorite in a Grade Three novice chase at Thurles last month, confidence in Soldier In Milan was high, with the horse starting as a well-supported 6-1 favorite. Under the expert guidance of jockey Donagh Meyler, Soldier In Milan led the pack throughout, taking the lead from British contender Monbeg Genius on the final turn and cruising to a 16-length victory after the fall of his closest rival, Kiss Will. The impressive performance earned Soldier In Milan a quote of 33-1 for next year's Cheltenham Gold Cup with several bookmakers. 'It's still sinking in,' said Mullins. 'I was pinching myself jumping the last fence, he was jumping and traveling smoothly.' Mullins praised Meyler's 'brilliant ride,' saying, 'I had warned him to wait as long as possible, and he executed everything perfectly.' The trainer acknowledged that bypassing a hurdle campaign was a risk but expressed his delight with the outcome, saying, 'He was fit and well, and fingers crossed, we think he could be a classy individual.' Soldier In Milan's victory was warmly received, with Mullins describing it as 'an honor and a privilege' to win the Irish National with a well-backed favorite. When asked about potential future plans, including a possible Gold Cup campaign, Mullins remained cautious, saying, 'We won't commit to anything just yet.' In another notable performance, Energumene, a 12-year-old veteran trained by Willie Mullins, claimed an emphatic victory in the Underwriting Exchange Fairyhouse Chase, proving that he still has plenty of ability and enthusiasm for the sport. With a strong display of stamina, Energumene traveled powerfully throughout the two-and-a-half-mile contest, scoring by six lengths from stablemate Blood Destiny. Mullins expressed his amazement at Energumene's performance, saying, 'I'm just astonished that he could put in such a display today.' The trainer confirmed that Energumene would likely have an entry in the Punchestown Festival before a decision is made on his future racing plans.