The former trainer of Grand National winner Minella Times was ecstatic following the horse's win at Aintree on Saturday.
Rachael Blackmore partnered Minella Times to Grand National glory for Henry de Bromhead to give the Waterford trainer a 1-2 in the race, with Balko Des Flos finishing second under Aidan Coleman.
The win came just a number of weeks after Minella Indo gave de Bromhead victory in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
John Nallen, who buys young horses and breaks them in to be future stars on the track, previously trained both Minella Times and Minella Indo, with the two horses named after the Minella Hotel in Clonmel that he co-owns with his sister.
Speaking on Luck on Sunday this morning, John described his former horse's win as "what dreams are made of" as he revealed an incredible connection between the Blackmore family and his hotel.
He said: "It's unbelievable. For Henry to have three Grade One winners for me in 18 months is unbelievable and Rachael is a Tipperary woman.
"Her mother and father had their wedding in Minella in 1985 so there's a family connection."
He added: "Henry's unbelievable with these horses. You produce them but if they don't go to the right home, you don't hear of them again either."
John says yesterday's win was a huge boost after a very tough year working in the hospitality sector.
He said: "There's a friend of the family that used to stay in the hotel. He's 95 and poor Frank is pushing on in age now.
"I rang Frank last night and he said 'that was fantastic'. To me that was as good as winning another National.
"Our industry is just wiped out. You might have seen me yesterday crying at looking at a horse winning. You sit in a business like ours nearly everyday when nobody is there and you cry too. That's the situation we're in."
John was delighted to see the horse win the National in JP McManus' colours and took a call from the businessman's wife Noreen after the race.
He explained: "To do it for them was unbelievable because they are the biggest benefactors to Irish racing and if they want your horse, there's no messing. They'll buy your horse. That's it.
"Frank (Berry, JP's racing manager) bought that horse in two minutes. When they want the horse, they know what they want, they are the best."
