Willie Mullins had to wait a long time for a first ever Boylesports Irish Grand National success, but his yard put in a dominant performance in the 2019 running at Fairyhouse, with 6/1 favourite Burrows Saint leading home a 1-2-3.
With Ruby Walsh on the saddle, Burrows Saint reeled in pace-setter Whisperinthebreeze three fences out, holding off a valiant effort from stablemate Isleofhopendreams by a length, to claim the €270,000 prize.
For Isleofhopendreams it was a second successive runner-up finish, with Acapella Bourgeois crossing the line third to complete the stable's 1-2-3.
What a performance! Burrows Saint under Ruby Walsh leads home a 1-2-3 for Willie Mullins in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National! 🥇🥈🥉 pic.twitter.com/qRSR8SKPIH
— FairyhouseRacecourse (@Fairyhouse) April 22, 2019
It's the first time Willie Mullins has saddled the winner of Irish jump racing's richest event, and it comes just over a month after he broke his Cheltenham Gold Cup duck with Al Boum Photo.
The victory was a third Irish National success for Ruby Walsh.
Snugsborough Benny took fourth place for Liam Cusack and Denis O'Regan, while another Mullins runner - 25-1 shot Bellow Mome - crossed the line in fifth, under Willie's nephew David.
Roaring Bull was the best of Gordon Elliott's 12 runners, coming home 6th.
Elsewhere on the card in county Meath there were three Grade 2 contests to be decided.
Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh also found success in the Rathbarry and Glenview Suds Juvenile Hurdle, with French Made a 6/1 winner.
The Keelings Hurdle went to 16/1 shot Rashaan, for trainer Colin Kidd and jockey Davy Russell, while the Jessica Harrington-trained Jett was a 7/1 victor in the Devenish Chase.
