JP McManus made the short journey from his home in Limerick to Listowel to take in the Kerry National on Wednesday.
The businessman and one of the world's biggest horse racing owners flew into the Co Kerry racecourse on his helicopter just in time to see his runner Perceval Legallois.
The five-year-old ran in the Devon Inn Hotel Handicap Hurdle and looked like the winner coming down to the last, but he wasn't fluent and was headed by 25/1 shot Macgiloney.
READ MORE: Busselton the winner of Kerry National at Listowel in Joseph O'Brien delight
Perceval Legallois, who was sent off at odds of 7/2, tried to rally on the run up towards the line, but he just couldn't get his head back in front. .
McManus then watched two more of his horses take their chance in the €200,000 Kerry National, which was a race full of drama.
Busselton made virtually every yard of the running to provide trainer Joseph O’Brien with back-to-back victories in the race, but there were plenty of thrills and spills during the course of the three-mile contest.
El Barra, the 5-1 favourite for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend, crashed out with over a circuit still to race, while his well fancied stablemate Rock Road was later pulled up injured.
Under an buccaneering ride from J J Slevin, 13-2 chance Busselton kept out of trouble on the front end and had most of his rivals in trouble rounding the home turn.
The only horse able to go with the leader was Shark Hanlon’s Hewick, who was carrying the welter burden off 11st 12lb following previous big-race wins in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown and Galway Plate.
Just when it looked like Jordan Gainford was delivering the €850 purchase with a winning run approaching the final fence, Hewick knuckled on landing and parted company with his rider.
His exit left Busselton in the clear and he passed the post with just under three lengths in hand over Mullins’ Recite A Prayer, with the winner’s stable companion Darasso (17/2), who is owned by McManus, best of the rest in third.
McManus' other runner in the race, A Wave Of The Sea (14/1), finished back in sixth under Simon Torrens.
Speaking to TG4 at Listowel prior to the race, McManus said: "The Kerry National is a day we always try to come to racing. It's still on my bucket list. I've hit the post a couple of times."
The 71-year-old and Limerick GAA sponsor added that the county are still celebrating their most recent All-Ireland success.
He said: "A great year. A great bunch of lads. Everything went well for them and they got a few breaks. We're still celebrating."
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