General Principle gives Gordon Elliott his first Irish Grand National victory

• Win puts Elliott in driving seat for Irish trainers title
• Willie Mullins-trained Isleofhopendreams pipped by a head

Gordon Elliott finally won an Irish Grand National on Monday in circumstances that could hardly have been more dramatic, his General Principle getting up to beat Isleofhopendreams, trained by Elliott’s title rival, Willie Mullins, by just a head. Those precious inches meant a prize money swing between the two men of €175,000 (£153,000) and give Elliott an excellent chance of becoming champion Irish trainer for the first time, ending a run of 10 consecutive titles for Mullins.

Approaching the climax of a race in which five horses fell and four others were brought down, it seemed that Mullins was about to land the race for the first time with Bellshill, who travelled like the best horse most of the way. But his stamina drained into the saturated Fairyhouse turf as he approached the last, where he all but refused, turning left to run down the take-off side before clambering over.

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from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2J98ZLb