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Irish-bred Flyingbolt won the Irish Grand National in 1966, gaining £4,470 in winnings, the richest in the race's history. A big, rangy chestnut, he carried 12 st. 7 lb., and was odds-on favorite, winning by two lengths. Despite the small field--six--in the Irish Grand National, he was a genuine 'chaser, coming off of three wins and one third that winter. His wins included the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park, the Massey Ferguson Gold Cup and the National Hunt Two Mile Championship 'Chase, both at Cheltenham--his placing was in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham the day after he won the Championship 'Chase. Due to the strength of his wins, the Irish system of handicapping was revised, and the resultant system is what is in use today. A son of Airborne, winner of the Derby Stakes and the St. Leger, among other top races, who proved to be a better sire of jumpers than flat racers, and grandson of the stakeswinner and good sire Precipitation. His damsire, Easton, was a fair racehorse sent to America for stud duty, and can be seen in the pedigrees of some American show jumpers. |
