Geraghty shuts out rivals to win first Irish National

Barry Geraghty won his first Irish Grand National when driving the Jonjo O’Neill-trained and J P McManus-owned Shutthefrontdoor to a hard fought success over Golden Wonder and Saoirse Dun at Fairyhouse yesterday.

The superb Geraghty had won just about every big race in the calendar, including the Aintree Grand National, Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle and the two-mile Champion Chase.

But he was born and reared in Co Meath and not having the Irish National on his CV was a glaring omission,