Brown Lad will forever be remembered as the first and thus far only horse to win three Irish Grand Nationals. To win such a wildly-competitive handicap chase on three occasions was an incredible achievement, but the fact that Brown Lad did it over the course of four years made it all the more remarkable. Anything but a one trick pony, Brown Lad was also competitive at the Cheltenham Festival for many years, winning the Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle in 1974 and what is now known as the World Hurdle in 1975.
Trainer: Jim Dreaper
Principal Jockey: Tommy Carberry
Notable Wins: Irish Grand National (1978, 1976, 1975), Thyestes Chase (1976), Lloyds Bank Hurdle (1975), Reynoldstown Chase (1975), Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle (1974)
Early Days
Remarkably, Brown Lad did not reach the racecourse until he was almost an eight-year-old, but he didn’t take long to make up for lost time. Trained at the time by Paddy Osborne for his breeder Joe Osborne, he won two bumpers and his first three races over hurdles. Those wins set him up to go off as favourite for the Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 1974 and he made no mistake, streaking home in front by six lengths under Ron Barry. Following that win, Brown Lad’s owner elected to sell him to Mrs Peter Burrell and she sent him to Jim Dreaper to continue his career.
Chasing Glory
Dreaper sent his new star straight over fences with immediate success, winning a maiden chase at Punchestown and the Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot under his new partner Tommy Carberry. Dreaper then decided to revert to hurdles with Brown Lad and that decision yielded a spectacular dividend when he won the Lloyds Bank Hurdle (now known as the World Hurdle) at the Cheltenham Festival. The following month, Brown Lad returned to chasing for the Irish Grand National and despite his novice status, he ran out the easy eight lengths winner.
Retaining His Title
Brown Lad had another lucrative campaign in 1975/6. He won another of Ireland’s most competitive handicap chases when prevailing in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park and added the National Trial at Punchestown to that soon after. He returned to the Cheltenham Festival to contest the Gold Cup and he acquitted himself very well indeed, finishing second to Royal Frolic. That run set him up for his bid to retain his Irish Grand National crown and off top weight, he got the job done by four lengths.
Injury And A Bid For History
Unfortunately, Brown Lad missed the entire 1976/7 season due to injury, an occurrence that many thought robbed him of his best chance to become the first-ever horse to win three Irish Grand Nationals. However, Brown Lad returned for the 1977/8 season in fine form, winning at Down Royal a few days before turning 12 and then failing by just a head to gain his second win in the Thyestes Chase. With the Cheltenham Gold Cup being abandoned due to snow, Brown Lad would have to go straight to the Irish Grand National for his history-making bid without a prep race. With his regular partner Tommy Carberry having to ride Mighty’s Honour in the race, it was Gerry Dowd, who had ridden just 11 winners, that was trusted with the ride on Brown Lad. Having been sent off as the second favourite, Brown Lad showed all his talent and enthusiasm was intact by grinding out a memorable win under his young rider to make National Hunt racing history. Brown Lad wasn’t finished for the season, as he went on to finish second in the rearranged Cheltenham Gold Cup.
While age caught up with Brown Lad for the remainder of his career, his three wins in the Irish Grand National, a feat that is unlikely to ever be repeated, sealed his place in racing history and he will never be forgotten.
Info supplied by Horse Racing Ireland – Updated January 2011
