RACING: Curran stunned by National triumph

1:57pm Wednesday 23rd April 2008

Sean Curran is still on a high after Iris De Balme gave him his biggest success since taking out a training licence two years ago with a 66-1 shock victory in the Coral Scottish Grand National.

The 37-year-old Irishman, who is based at Hatford, near Stanford-in-the-Vale, admitted he had no great expectations that his charge would be involved in the finish of Saturday's Ayr showpiece.

But the eight-year-old showed an extraordinary burst of acceleration under 20-year-old amateur jockey Charlie Huxley to storm home by 14 lengths from Halcon Genelardais - and capture the £114,020 first prize.

"Going up there 26lb out of the handicap, we just wanted him to run respectably," reflected Curran, who is still a licensed jump jockey.

"If he'd have finished about tenth, and not been beaten by far, we'd have been thrilled.

"Going down the back straight, I'd have just been happy to get a place.

"But he stayed and jumped - and then showed that amazing speed."

Curran hopes Iris De Balme's tremendous display acts as a catalyst for brisk business at Grey Fox Stables, whose landlord, Lee Power, the former Norwich and Republic of Ireland footballer who lives at Brize Norton, is also joint-owner of the Scottish National winner.

"It's a massive victory for everyone at the yard and hopefully it has put us on the map," added Curran.

"To have a runner in a big race like that is a huge achievement for a small yard like ours.

"But to actually win it, that's something else."

Iris De Balme is also likely to line up in Sandown's bet365 Gold Cup this Saturday.

He is again set to run from a long way out of the handicap with Racing Demon, from Henrietta Knight's West Lockinge yard, set to carry top weight.

"I ride him every day, so I'll know whether he will be fit for Sandown," said Curran.

"I don't want to run him just for the sake of it. But if the ground was no quicker than good, and he's in good form, we will give it a go."

Looking further ahead, Curran feels Iris De Balme could be a serious contender for the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree.

Having ridden more than 100 winners and finished sixth aboard Killeshin in the 1998 Grand National, he now dares to dream of going even closer - but this time as a trainer.

"We entered Iris De Balme in the National two years ago, but he had such a lowly rating we had to take him out," he said.

"With the rating he's now going to get, you would have to look at races like that (the Grand National)," he said.

"The amazing thing is that he's still a novice over fences and over hurdles."

On the same Ayr card, Starzaan, from Hughie Morrison's East Ilsley yard, benefited from a never-say-die ride by Robert Thornton to floor Noland in the Future Champion Novices' Chase.

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