Butler's Cabin had won at Cheltenham in March
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Tony McCoy rode Cheltenham Festival winner Butler's Cabin to victory in the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.
The 14-1 shot, trained by Jonjo O'Neill and owned by JP McManus, beat Ferdy Murphy's Nine de Sivola by a length.
Behind the British-trained first two was American Jennie, while long-time leader Church Island claimed fourth.
It was a gutsy effort by the winner, who had finished distressed after landing the four-mile National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham 25 days earlier.
Butler's Cabin again failed to make it to the winner's enclosure, but a delighted O'Neill said: "The horse is grand now. It (exhaustion) happens all the time as he gets a bit excited.
"He's a great jumper and he had a great spin round. He jumped away well and it all went right for him.
"I didn't have to do that much to him - the horse did all of the work."
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All being well, we'll look forward to Aintree next year
Winning trainer Jonjo O'Neill
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Butler's Cabin, who is likely to be rested until next season, is now rated a 33-1 chance for the 2008 Grand National at Aintree.
The victory was a timely boost ahead of this year's National on Saturday for 11-times champion jockey McCoy, who hailed Butler's Cabin as "very special".
McCoy has never won the English version, and will be aboard the Francois Doumen-trained L'Ami for McManus.
At Fairyhouse, the Northern Irish rider held off a determined challenge from the runner-up Nine de Sivola.
They went clear after several horses had chances coming to the second last, including Tom Taaffe's well-backed favourite King's Advocate, under Ruby Walsh.
Stablemate Cane Brake, the top weight, and Nicky Henderson's Juveigneur were both disappointing and never looked likely to trouble the leaders.
McCoy, who was riding another horse when Butler's Cabin won at Cheltenham, paid tribute to his mount.
"Any horse that can win over four miles at Cheltenham and then win an Irish National is obviously very special," she said.
He is the first horse to complete a Cheltenham-Irish National double double since Omerta triumphed on on the back of his 1991 Kim Muir success.
Tony Dobbin, who is due to ride Longshanks in the Grand National, was taken to Blanchardstown Hospital with a badly bruised arm after he was brought down on Cloudy Lane.
Cheeky Lady suffered a fatal fall when involved in the unsightly pile-up three fences out.
Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National
1 Butler's Cabin AP McCoy 14-1
2 Nine de Sivola G Lee 12-1
3 American Jennie N Madden 33-1
4 Church Island AJ McNamara 66-1
29 ran. Dist: 1, 1¾
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