Bluesea proves National Cracker Bluesea Cracker emerged victorious after a gruelling renewal of the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse today. Andrew McNamara hit the front two from home on the James Motherway-trained mare but had a worrying moment as she wondered approaching the final fence. Despite the jockey losing his whip trying to correct his mount the parnership had plenty in reserve. The 25/1 shot stayed on well on the run-in to score by four-and-a-half lengths from Oscar Time. "I can't believe it. She's been a fantastic mare for us," said Motherway. "I walked the track at 12 this morning and was worried about getting home in the ground. "I skipped a heartbeat going to the last but then jumped six feet into the air after it! "We found that she has been far more settled this year and if she was ever going to go for an Irish National it was this season. "All credit to Andy. I wanted to drop in but he said he wanted to be mid-division as they wouldn't be gaining much ground in the conditions. "He's a cool man and he waited for the last minute until he had to go. He lifted her over the last three. I just can't believe it." McNamara had wasted hard to get down to 10 stone 4lb for the mount and said:- "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. "James was a bit worried about the trip but we were confident enough on the form with Ballytrim - we weren't too far away from him. "For the last three or four days I've been eating nothing but vitamins and had a good sweat today as well." Paul Carberry was stood down for the day, suffering soft tissue injury after the fall from Across The Bay. 7/1 favourite Saddlers Storm was a faller six from home while fancied runners Alpha Ridge and Equus Maximus were both pulled up. The crowd for Fairyhouse's big day was 1,949 down on last year with 13,127 through the gates as opposed to 15,076 in 2009.
