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Bluesea Cracker wins Irish National

Ambobo falls during the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National
Ambobo falls during the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National

Bluesea Cracker, trained by James Motherway, landed an incident-packed renewal of the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.

There were plenty of casualties in the three-mile-five-furlong contest, including favourite Saddlers Storm, leading fancy Telenor and British raider Double Dizzy.

Bluesea Cracker (25-1) was well to the fore as the field rounded the turn for home for the final time. And although she began to tire on the run-in, Andrew McNamara's mount had enough in reserve to repel the challenge of Oscar Time by four and a half lengths.

Whatuthink was third, with Cheltenham cross-country winner A New Story fourth.

It was the biggest success in the career of Cork-based Motherway - and the trainer's first over fences this season.

Bluesea Cracker had finished second to Ballytrim on her latest appearance at Naas in March but had won a Grade Two as a novice at Limerick in April last year, the only other time she had been partnered by McNamara.

William Hill make the mare 33-1 for next year's Grand National at Aintree.

A delighted James Motherway said: 'We wondered if she would get home on the soft ground - I just did not know. She has been fantastic for us over the last four years.'

Andrew McNamara added: 'I jumped off and got a lovely position on the inner. At the second fence away from the stand she met it wrong and hit it a belt - she did really well to recover.'

'In the straight I gave her a squeeze and she quickened up well.
Going to the last she ran around a bit and I dropped my stick trying to get two hands on the rein.'

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