Intense Raffles maintained his strong connection with Fairyhouse by fending off the rapidly approaching Any Second Now in an exhilarating edition of the BoyleSports Irish Grand National.
Twelve years after a triumphant victory with Lion Na Bearnai, Thomas Gibney once again found success with a talented French import owned by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede. Since being brought over from Europe, this impressive horse has performed exceptionally well in two races at Fairyhouse.
Paul Townend, the jockey who triumphed in the Gold Cup, and trainer Willie Mullins proudly pose with their impressive collection of nine victories from the Cheltenham Festival at their base in Carlow. In the world of horse racing, a ban on Irish entries would be a clear sign of surrender and failure.
The presently injured Daryl Jacob achieved the triumphs. JJ Slevin took advantage of Jacob's misfortune to secure his second win in the Easter Monday event on the courageous grey horse, who displayed exceptional jumping skills.
Continuously surging forward under Slevin's expert guidance, Intense Raffles maintained a strong presence throughout the race, closely following the lead set by Frontal Assault. Even a tiny error at the fourth obstacle failed to impede Intense Raffles' smooth progress as the talented six-year-old effortlessly surged ahead to take the lead.
Eager to prolong the race, Slevin patiently bided his time until after two out to inch ahead of the 13-2 winner. After clearing the final obstacle with a slim lead, he persevered tenaciously to the finish line, even as Ted Walsh's experienced horse and Willie Mullins' Minella Cocooner closed in with each stride.
Slevin expressed his satisfaction with his horse's performance, highlighting its impressive jumping ability. However, he noted that the horse was slightly extended at the final obstacle and started to feel tired and isolated. Nevertheless, it showed great determination and fought until the very end. Winning these races can be pretty challenging, so I'm thrilled to have the chance. Unfortunately, Daryl couldn't participate due to his broken collarbone.
Gibney remarked: "He's an exceptional horse, and it's effortless to instruct such remarkable equines." It was in February of last year when I had the opportunity to have a conversation with Munir and Souede, the owners. Credit to them for their fair play. It's impressive that the more prominent owners have chosen to support a smaller stable like ours by providing us with a horse. We greatly appreciate their generosity and recognition. It requires some effort, but it's lovely to show gratitude.
"When he triumphed at this location on the previous occasion, we were still in the process of acquainting ourselves with him, and everything has simply aligned perfectly." I could portray myself as exceptionally intelligent, although in reality, it's simply a fortunate outcome - a highly favourable one. I had immense faith in the horse. People inquired about my level of anxiety, but I can honestly say that I remained calm and assured, as we had unwavering faith in him. He is absolutely outstanding, surpassing all others I have encountered. He's simply an exceptional horse. When you ride such a remarkable steed, you can't help but sense its superiority over all others. Every time I hop on his back, I experience that sensation.
At such a young age, the possibilities for his future are endless. Winning in 2012 was a truly unforgettable experience, unlike anything we see today. The anticipation and stress were on a whole other level.
He expressed his gratitude to the staff, acknowledging the close-knit nature of the small organisation, which includes his family, daughters, wife, and a local team. They are incredibly talented, and it's fantastic for them; they require it just as much as I do. I'm receiving warm embraces and affectionate gestures; it feels reminiscent of a joyous matrimonial celebration! As a resident of Meath, winning it twice feels absolutely surreal. The two young men, Munir and Souede, are currently on aeroplanes. They were eagerly anticipating the opportunity to watch it, so I genuinely hope that they were able to witness it."