Soldier In Milan Stuns Rivals to Claim Irish Grand National

In a remarkable display of speed and agility, Soldier In Milan defied his lack of experience to emerge victorious in the prestigious Boyle Sports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse. Trained by Emmet Mullins, the seven-year-old had only five previous starts under his belt, including a notable win at the Punchestown Festival last spring. Despite being beaten into fourth place in a Grade Three novice chase at Thurles the previous month, Soldier In Milan was a heavily backed 6-1 favourite going into the Easter Monday feature. Under the skilled guidance of jockey Donagh Meyler, he maintained a strong pace throughout the race, taking the lead from British challenger Monbeg Genius on the final turn. As his nearest rival Kiss Will fell, Soldier In Milan surged forward, crossing the finish line with an impressive 16-length lead. His dominant performance caught the attention of bookmakers, who now have him at 33-1 for next year's Cheltenham Gold Cup. An elated Mullins praised his talented young horse, saying, "It hasn't sunk in yet... I was pinching myself jumping the last with a lap to go, he was jumping and travelling smoothly." Mullins also expressed his admiration for jockey Meyler's expert ride, stating, "I had warned Donagh to wait as long as possible, and he executed everything perfectly." When asked about the decision to bypass a hurdle campaign, Mullins acknowledged it was a risk but believed Soldier In Milan had the necessary class to overcome his inexperience. The trainer is now looking forward to future plans for his promising young charge, although he remains cautious about making any bold predictions. Meanwhile, in the Underwriting Exchange Fairyhouse Chase, veteran champion Energumene, trained by Willie Mullins, delivered an impressive victory, defying his 12 years of age to claim the two-mile chasing crown. With a dominant six-length win, Energumene proved he still has plenty of spark left, and his trainer is now considering a potential return to the Punchestown Festival before deciding on his future racing plans.