Trainer Profile

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Dermot McLoughlin spent his early years working for the Dreaper family following in his father's and uncle's footsteps. His father Liam was the first jockey to win on the legendary Arkle and also won many of the big races in his career, including the Irish Grand National and the Thyestes Chase on the Tom Dreaper-trained Kerforo in 1962, the Thyestes for a second time three years later on Fort Leney and he also enjoyed success in races such as the Leopardstown Chase and Sun Alliance Novice Chase.

Dermot didn't enjoy the same glory in his riding days but training winners came little easier. He enjoyed his first winner as a trainer when his first runner, Ocean Bright, won at Roscommon in August, 2010. He recorded no shortage of success in the point-to-point field and on the racecourse proper in his early days with a licence with the admirable Vics Canvas being the standard bearer. He also enjoyed repeated success with the likes of Ocean Bright and Sadlers Mark. Vics Canvas gave the yard their biggest win (at the time) when landing the Cork Grand National in early November, 2014. He ran the race of his life to finish third to Rule The World in the Aintree Grand National in April, 2016 at 13 years of age.

But a bigger day was to come at his local track when the Ricky Doyle-ridden Freewheelin Dylan won the BoyleSports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse in April 2021. Owned by Sheila Mangan, who works for Dermot, he was returned at a price of 150/1, the longest-priced winner of the race in its 150-year history.