RACING/FAIRYHOUSE REPORT:ANDREW McNAMARA will have a remarkable Grand National double in his sights when he lines up on Ballyholland at Aintree on Saturday but after Bluesea Cracker's 25 to 1 victory at Fairyhouse yesterday he could have been forgiven for only having eyes for his dinner.

The 26-year-old jockey managed to sweat his near 6ft frame down to 10st 4lb for the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National and the effort paid off in style as Bluesea Cracker became the first mare for 17 years to win the €250,000 Easter Monday feature.

On heavy ground that made every ounce count, Bluesea Cracker even managed to make light of the 1lb overweight that McNamara couldn’t shed to beat Oscar Time, with Whatuthink and A New Story filling out the finishing places dominated by outsiders.

Bluesea Cracker’s east Cork-based trainer James Motherway was guaranteed by McNamara last week that he would make 10st 4lb and he was full of praise for a jockey who was adding to a big-race CV that already includes a Champion Chase and an Irish Champion Hurdle.

“He’s a brilliant jockey and gave her a fantastic ride. He’s such a cool man and he practically lifted her over the last three fences,” said Motherway who trains just a dozen horses and was enjoying the highlight of his career.

Not surprisingly in a race where just 11 of the 26 runners finished, McNamara’s job was hardly straight-forward and he dropped his whip coming to the last as Bluesea Cracker wandered around under pressure.

“I’d been doing light for the last three or four days and was pretty much all out. I just wanted to get my two hands back on the reins because I knew I had enough horse to get me to the line,” said the rider. “There hasn’t been much to eat except vitamin tablets and I had a good sweat this morning.”

McNamara spent the previous night at Ballyholland GAA Club in Co Down at a function as the build-up to Saturday’s Aintree National intensifies.

Ruby Walsh was the last jockey to complete the Irish-English National double in 2005 and it was a further 30 years back to Tommy Carberry before him. But McNamara is fancying his chances of joining that elite company on Ballyholland.

“He’s a Galway Plate winner who jumps very well,” he said. “I think the lads in the GAA club wanted to have a party just in case he doesn’t win – but you never know!”

Motherway would say amen to that, having walked the track at noon and returned fearful of Bluesea Cracker’s stamina lasting out the marathon trip.

“From the sixth last it is very soft and that was our one query. But Andrew was brilliant,” he said. “It’s great for everyone in the yard who works so hard. Our numbers are down because of the economic crisis and we’ve had just four or five winners this season. But this mare has been fantastic for us for the last four years.”

Motherway’s grandfather Jimmy led up the 1939 Irish National winner Shaun Peel for trainer Charlie Creed and afterwards Bluesea Cracker was installed a general 33 to 1 shot for next year’s Aintree National.

Robbie Power advised Oscar Time’s trainer Martin Lynch that next year’s Liverpool spectacular may be ideal for yesterday’s runner-up.

“He ran a super race but just didn’t get home in that ground. At Aintree next year he should get more suitable going,” he said.

Yesterday’s race was a bitter one for the market leaders with the well-backed Telenor only making it to the 10th fence before falling and the favourite Saddlers Storm crashed out at the sixth last.

“He got into a pocket where there wasn’t much room and he was the one to go down,” said his trainer Tony Martin.

All the horses returned unharmed but Paul Carberry was stood down for the rest of the day after picking up a soft tissue injury to his knee when Across The Bay fell early in the race.

For Andrew McNamara there was nothing but the taste of victory, along with a welcome bottle of water.

“She wasn’t that far off Ballytrim on her last start and he was nearly third favourite today so we felt she wouldn’t be far away. She made one mistake when she gave a fence past the stands a belt but came back from it really well,” said the winning jockey.

However, the water was about all that McNamara could celebrate with. Waiting for him today – if racing at Fairyhouse survives a morning inspection – is a ride on Sky’s The Limit who is due to carry just 10st 5lb.

There may be more disappointed people than the National winning jockey if he gets an unexpected day off!