| The chestnut Air Prince, bred in Ireland, was twelve years old when he won the Irish Grand National in 1956, beating the venerable Icelough and Roddy Owen (who would win the Cheltenham Gold Cup three years later), both of whom gave him weight. He was primarily a point-to-pointer who had won two handicap 'chases, but seemed to come into his own in his age, and would have won the Leopardstown Chase in '56, had he not fallen at the second last; he did win a two mile handicap hurdle later that year. His sire, Airway (by four-time British leading sire Fairway), won a couple of races at age 4, was later sent to stud in New Zealand, and was able to get speed on his youngsters. Air Prince's dam, Miltown Queen, was also the dam of the 1952 Grand National winner Teal. |
