Where It All Began got off the mark over fences in the QuinnBet Grand National Trial Handicap Chase at Punchestown.
Gordon Elliott’s eight-year-old had performed with credit in seven previous starts over fences but was yet to taste success in the discipline and was last seen winning in a maiden hurdle in January 2022.
Under Jack Kennedy, he stepped up to a staying trip of three miles and three furlongs for the first time at Punchestown and started as a 10-1 chance in a field of 15.
The gelding always looked comfortable but it was on the turn for home that the race became a test of stamina and it looked as though favourite We’llhavewan had the upper hand.
However, Where It All Began started to pick off his rivals, clearly relishing the extra distance as galloped home to take the Listed contest by an easy 16 lengths.
Where it All Began runs out an impressive winner of the €100,000 @quinnbet Grand National Trial, landing Listed honours in fine style for @jackkennedy15 and @gelliott_racing 🥇 pic.twitter.com/7c9iQTLcPA
— Punchestown (@punchestownrace) February 18, 2024
“He jumped great and never missed a beat the whole way,” Kennedy said.
“It probably looked turning in that I was going to finish third but stamina really kicked in when we straightened up. I’m delighted with him.
“He’s not reliant on heavy ground, just a test of stamina is what he wants.
“He’d been running well and threatened to do something like that.”
As a result of the performance Paddy Power and Betfair slashed his price for the Grand National from 200-1 to 50-1, with weights for the Aintree contest revealed on Tuesday.
Elliott nominated two alternative targets for the horse, however, one at the Cheltenham Festival in March and one closer to home at Fairyhouse, with only 34 runners permitted in the National this year.
He said: “He could go for the Kim Muir at Cheltenham or an Irish National. It was a good performance and he stays really well.”
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