Dawalan captures Grand National at Far Hills

Dawalan, a 5-year-old Irish-bred gelding making just his second start in the United States, won Saturday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Grand National Hurdle Stakes at Far Hills, N.J.

Ridden by Ross Geraghty, who earlier won the $50,000 Peapack Stakes for fillies and mares on One Lucky Lady, Dawalan was third the final time down the backstretch in the 2 5/8-mile race over 14 National fences behind Hunt Ball and Decoy Daddy.

Dawalan, a close third in the Grade 1 Lonesome Glory on Sept. 24 at Belmont Park in his first start since arriving from Britain, moved up to second behind the 13-year-old Decoy Daddy on the far turn and prevailed by a length in a three-horse drive to the wire. Another European, the 5-year-old Eshtiaal, finished second by a nose over the Irish import Rawnaq. Demonstrative, last year’s Eclipse Award winner, did not display the speed he showed in winning last year’s Grand National and never was in contention, finishing last of nine.

Dawalan, now 5 for 19 lifetime, and Rawnaq are both owned by Irv Naylor and trained by Cyril Murphy. Naylor won the 2012 Grand National with Black Jack Blues. Murphy, winning his first Grade 1 race as a trainer, rode the 2001 Grand National winner, Quel Senor.

The winning time of 4:57.20 was the fastest running of the Grand National since Good Night Shirt ran the distance in 4:54.20 in 2008.

"He did it pretty easy at the end," said winning jockey Geraghty.

Earlier on the seven-race card, worth a National Steeplechase Association record $600,000, Scorpiancer, a 6-year-old Irish-bred gelding ridden by Connor Hankin for trainer Jack Fisher, won the $100,000 Foxbrook Hurdle for novices.