Western Fold gets up over Fil Dor in final steps to take American Grand National

Western Fold fought off a persistent challenge from Fil Dor in the final quarter-mile to win Saturday’s Grade 1 American Grand National at Far Hills in New Jersey.

The well-earned victory by Western Fold gave the Irish jockey and trainer team of Jack Kennedy and Gordon Elliott their second consecutive win in the richest jump race in the United States.

Western Fold, who paid $4 as the favorite in a field of seven, was always prominent for Kennedy, stalking pacesetter Fil Dor for 13 of the 14 hurdles. Western Fold took the lead at the last hurdle, and appeared on his way to a comfortable fence when 9-1 Fil Dor fought back and briefly regained the lead.

The two raced as a team through the uphill finish before Western Fold prevailed narrowly.

“We jumped the final fence very well,” Kennedy said in a television interview. “I thought I had Fil Dor beaten, but he battled back. It was very tough.”

The Elliott-trained Zanahiyr, who won the 2025 American Grand National, finished third on Saturday. Ridden by Danny Gilligan, Zanahiyr (5-1) was well placed through the race at 2 5/8 miles but did not threaten the first two finishers.

Western Fold, a 7-year-old Irish-bred by the Danehill stallion Westerner, won for the eighth time in his 25th start on Saturday. The American Grand National was his richest win since the $311,700 Galway Plate Steeplechase at 2 3/4 miles at Galway Racecourse in Ireland in July 2025, one of the country’s leading summer jump races.

Western Fold struggled for the rest of the 2025-2026 jump season in Ireland and Britain, winning two of his next six starts. Elliott, one of Ireland’s leading jump trainers, declared Western Fold a candidate for the American Grand National after the gelding won a Grade 1 for novice chasers at Punchestown Racecourse in Ireland in April, in his final start of the jump season.

The new season began on May 1. The American Grand National was Western Fold’s first start over obstacles of the current season. Western Fold was ninth of 13 in a maiden race on the flat 1 3/4 miles at Gowran Park on Sept. 1.

Western Fold races for the partnership of Weld-Spec Glasgow, Dee L’Estrange, and Del Rio Racing. Fil Dor, who was fifth in the 2025 American Grand National in his final start for Elliott, is owned by Del Rio Racing. Fil Dor joined trainer Richard Hendricks after the 2025 Grand National.

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