Racing's weird synchronicity appeared to ensure a Boylesports Irish Grand National famed for outsiders and "little-guy" winners wound up being won by 8-1 favourite Shutthefrontdoor and Barry Geraghty, around whom much of Easter Monday's Fairyhouse PR blitz revolved.
Geraghty's pursuit of an elusive first win in the €250,000 highlight dominated the build- up to Irish steeplechasing's most cherished prize, with the sponsors even making the locally born jockey their publicity "ambassador". And just as sometimes the home team wins a World Cup, or a home boy wins Wimbledon, the perfect storybook result transpired.
That no one quibbled at how billionaire businessman JP McManus owned the winner of the “race of the people”, or that Shutthefrontdoor travelled from Jonjo O’Neill’s yard in Gloucestershire, only reflected the widespread recognition of Geraghty’s achievement.
At 34, he has already carved out a brilliant career full of Champions Hurdles, Gold Cups and championship titles that would have left the absence of an Irish National on his CV a conspicuous omission.
That he had never even been placed in previous attempts at the race was clearly an itch he was delighted to finally scratch.
“We all like to win our local big one and I’d been unlucky up to now. But that was a great finish and an awesome thrill,” beamed the man who this season has been feasting on discards from Tony McCoy’s table that have proven to be less scraps and more filet mignon.
Geraghty won the Champion Hurdle and the World Hurdle at Cheltenham last month on star names overlooked by McManus's retained rider, and a suspended McCoy endured his great rival again carrying the famous colours to more big race success.
Despite over 3½ miles and 24 fences, the finish was a thriller, with Shutthefrontdoor needing the full Geraghty drive to overhaul Golden Wonder, with Saoirse Dun a neck back in third and 40-1 shot Jamsie Hall fourth.
“Coming to the second last I thought the second might have it but I knew at the last I’d win. Jonjo had him spot on and the horse really battled for me,” said Geraghty. Afterwards Andrew Ring, rider of Saoirse Dun, got a three-day suspension for his use of the whip.
It was a third Irish National win for McManus, a second for O’Neill after Butler’s Cabin in 2007, but even they bowed to the focus on the rider.
“He’s a great jockey, a great man for the big occasion and we’re delighted to be able to supply him with a National winner,” said McManus, who ran five others in the race.
O’Neill declared: “It was a lovely ride and he was very positive on him all through the race.”
That positive approach and ability to deliver has characterised Geraghty’s career. It was hardly surprising then that just over half-an-hour later he doubled up on another cross-channel raider, Une Artiste, in the Grade 3 Mares Chase, for his boss Nicky Henderson.
Henderson had a one-two in the chase – named after his friends John and Chich Fowler – as last year's winner Nadiya De La Vega came second.
Earlier Willie Mullins and Paul Townend combined for a black-type double as Thousand Stars dominated in the Grade 2 Keelings Hurdle and Ivan Grozny just held Kitten Rock in the Grade 3 Juvenile Hurdle.
The champion trainer’s brother Tom supplied Investmentsuccess to get the better of Draco in the concluding bumper.
