Irish expatriates and former Ireland-based riders Shane Jackson and Tom Ryan secured a notable feature race victory on Sunday, teaming up to win the Ecycle Solutions Grand National Hurdle with Andy Win at Sportsbet Sandown Lakeside in Melbourne. The New Zealand-bred jumper delivered a resilient performance in the 4,200-meter test, successfully holding off a strong challenge from the runner-up Ardakan, ridden by Martin Kelly and trained by Ciaron Maher. Meanwhile, Embezzler claimed third place behind the British-bred runner-up in a grueling contest that tested stamina across the Victorian circuit.
For Jackson, who hails from Rathangan, County Wicklow, the victory marked a triumph in the prestigious jumps feature. Reflecting on the hard-fought win with Racing.com, Jackson highlighted the demanding nature of the race and praised his colleague’s expert handling of the gelding. “It’s unbelievable. We won this race last year with Highland Blaze, and to win it again this year with Andy Win… he’s been a cracking horse, and he made hard work of it; I don’t think there’s any jockey, except Tom Ryan, that would have won on him today,” Jackson told Racing.com.
“He looked gone up the back, he had to keep him up to his job. Maybe the ground wasn’t quite soft enough for him and the others had a bit more speed, but geez he’s tough. What a thrill,” Jackson added.
Tom Ryan Completes Melbourne Double With Crisp Chase Victory
The success for the Irish contingent did not stop with the Grand National Hurdle feature. County Galway rider Tom Ryan followed up his earlier triumph by securing a double on the Sandown card, steering Sing For Peace to victory in the Ecycle Solutions Crisp Chase.
The Crisp Chase delivered a dramatic finish on the Melbourne track, with Sing For Peace edging out Mr Lincoln in a tight battle, while Stern Idol finished further back in a race that captivated racegoers on Sunday. The winning chaser, another New Zealand-bred son of Tavistock, is trained by Patrick Payne. Mr Lincoln claimed second position, with Hit The Road Jack rounding out the placings in third.
Race Details and Field Dynamics
Sunday’s Sandown meeting served as a major showcase for established international jumping talent making their mark on the Australian racing calendar. The Grand National Hurdle, contested over a testing 4,200 meters, required extreme staying power from both horse and rider. Andy Win faced challenging ground conditions that blunted his usual turn of foot, forcing Ryan to constantly pressure the gelding throughout the back straight to keep him in contention with sharper rivals.
Racing fans can watch race replays and check official meeting archives via Racing.com for full footage of the Grand National Hurdle and the Crisp Chase finishes.
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