Intense Raffles held off the problem of Any Second Now to win the Irish Grand Nationwide at a rain-hit Fairyhouse on Monday.
JJ Slevin saved the Tom Gibney skilled Intense Raffles (13-2) shut in behind early chief Frontal Assault earlier than transferring to the entrance.
Intense Raffles opened a niche however a powerful end from Any Second Now (14-1) noticed him win by only a size.
Minella Cocooner (20-1) got here in third with Frontal Assault (25-1) fourth.
It was a second Irish Grand Nationwide victory for Slevin and Gibney whereas the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned French import Intense Raffles gained for the second time at Fairyhouse.
Intense Raffles regarded good all through, with the six-year-old gray tucking in behind Frontal Assault earlier than hitting the entrance two out.
He stayed on gamely to disclaim the fast-finishing Any Second Now and Minella Cocooner.
“He is a incredible horse and it is simple to coach good horses like that,” mentioned Gibney.
“Final February was the primary time I spoke to them (Munir and Souede) and honest play to the boys.
“It’s extremely simple for the large homeowners to go to the large yards, so for them to pick a small steady like us and provides us a horse, kudos to them. That takes a little bit of doing and it is nice to repay them.
“When he gained right here the final time we have been simply attending to know him and it is simply fallen into place. I might make out like I am a genius however I am not likely, it is simply the way in which it labored out – it labored out nicely.
“I had enormous confidence within the horse. Folks have been asking me if I used to be nervous and hand on my coronary heart I wasn’t as a result of we had enormous confidence in him. He is the most effective I’ve had.”