Brain Power prevails in Grand National Hurdle

Brain Power, who failed to finish two of the leading hurdle races in Britain in the spring, won Saturday’s Grade 1 Grand National Hurdle at Far Hills in New Jersey, taking the lead after a fatal fall by 8-5 favorite Wicklow Brave at the final obstacle.

Ridden by Nico de Boinville, one of Britain’s top jump jockeys, Brain Power was always prominent in the $450,000 race at 2 5/8 miles on an undulating course.

Brain Power ($13) was held up behind pacesetter Iranistan for the first two miles before moving into a stalking position. On the final turn, Wicklow Brave and Brain Power were clear of their 10 rivals. Wicklow Brave appeared to have Brain Power held going to the last obstacle, but made a vital mistake and unseated jockey Paul Townend.

Sadly, Wicklow Brave sustained fatal injuries, according to the Equibase chart. Trained in Ireland by Willie Mullins, Wicklow Brave won 17 of 59 starts racing on flat and over obstacles through his career. On the flat, Wicklow Brave won the Group 1 Irish St. Leger in 2016 at The Curragh.

In hurdle races, Wicklow Brave won the 2015 County Hurdle at Cheltenham Racecourse in England and the Grade 1 Punchestown Champion Hurdle in Ireland in 2017.

Brain Power finished 15 lengths in front of 13-1 Scorpiancer, who finished a neck in front of 25-1 Moscato.

Owned by Michael Buckley, Brain Power has won 8 of 21 starts, but has completed only six of his last 11 starts. He was pulled up in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham last March and pulled up in the Scottish Hurdle at Ayr last April, his most recent start prior to Saturday’s race.

Brain Power has raced over hurdles since last December when he won the $176,200 International Hurdle at Cheltenham at 2 1/8 miles. Brain Power ran in tougher steeplechase races in the winter of 2017-18, including a second in the $243,400 Arkle Chase at Cheltenham in March 2018, one of the top races of the year for two-mile novice chasers.

Brain Power is trained by Nicky Henderson, Britain’s top jump trainer. An 8-year-old gelding, Brain Power underwent a back operation in the summer of 2018 and has since won 2 of 5 starts.