The Irish Grand National may not be as prestigious as it was in its heyday but it remains the country’s premier handicap. Its storied history means that it is a treasured prize for owners, trainers and jockeys alike.

There was no disguising Barry Geraghty’s desire to end a nightmare run in the race, or his delight when Shutthefrontdoor proved the solution to an increasingly difficult puzzle.

“I had ridden plenty of well-fancied horses over the years,” explains Geraghty. “My first ride in it was in 1998 on Miss Orchestra. She was nearly favourite (8/1 joint second favourite with subsequent winner, Bobbyjo) after winning the Midlands National at Uttoxeter. And she was well beaten.”

He was a callow 18-year-old then, only 15 months after riding his first winner and three years shy of becoming Irish champion for the first time. Yet as all the big pots piled up over the years - Gold Cups, Champion Hurdles, Champion Chases, World Hurdles, Aintree Grand National and almost every other Grade 1 you can think of - he never even rode a finish in the big one at Fairyhouse.

There isn’t even a hard-luck story to tell. The closest Geraghty reckons he came to contesting in 16 attempts before this year was falling at the second last and he was “only barely in contention” at that juncture.

“This year, when Boylesports asked me to be the ambassador for the race - and I was delighted to help out Fairyhouse - (it) spiralled out of that. Doing interviews, saying how I’d never even been close in 15 or 16 Nationals.

“I suppose it’s only when you win it that you realise how much it means to you. I kind of got a taste of it the day before in the Power Gold Cup (on Rebel Fitz) because that’s a race as well that I hadn’t won. And it’s a big race locally, and always was. I remember as a kid watching good horses winning it; winning both races.

“It takes you so long to win them, you appreciate them all the more. It was a big deal winning both races, but especially the National.”

It was more than a desire to tick another box however. This was about his roots, as a son of breeder and racehorse trainer, ‘Tucker’ Geraghty in Pellettstown, the birthplace of the legendary Golden Miller.

He may have gone on to sell his own Gold Cup winner, Bobs Worth, to Nicky Henderson - little did he know that he would end up riding his former charge on the greatest of days - and ride 31 winners and counting at the Cheltenham Festival, but growing up in Meath, where he still lives, the Easter Festival in Fairyhouse was everything.

“If you weren’t at Fairyhouse two hours before the first, you wouldn’t make the first. They’d be queuing back to Clonee. That’s how it was when I was growing up,” explains the 34-year-old.

“And it was probably a bigger Festival than Punchestown. It was massive, and it still is a big Festival. Fairyhouse was The One and the National was the feature. It was probably the top jump race on the calendar and it’s still close enough there. It’s the biggest handicap anyway.

“It’s just nice to do it locally. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing better in the world than riding winners in England but a lot of them are on Saturdays and I’m on the first flight out of there.

“You’re after being in England in a day or two and you’re dashing to the airport and gone. You’re a little bit detached from the enjoyment of it because one, you’ve had a very busy day and two, you’re straight out the door before the last even.

“So it’s just nice to be able to take the time to enjoy it, and enjoy it locally, in the place where you grew up.

“(My wife) Paula was there with the kids, my parents were there, brothers and sisters, neighbours, cousins; it’s a lovely feeling. You know so many people there... and you’re walking around Ratoath today and you’ve people congratulating you, tooting the horn at you and everything like that. It’s a nice feeling.”

He only picked up the ride due to A.P. McCoy’s suspension but has a long association with both owner and trainer. Just last month, he booted home Jezki (Champion Hurdle) and More Of That (World Hurdle) for J.P. McManus, with the latter trained by Jonjo O’Neill.

“I was lucky enough to have ridden a couple of winners for J.P. and a winner for Jonjo at Cheltenham and I’ve ridden plenty for both of them over the years going back to the early 2000s. I won the William Hill on Youllneverwalkalone and have ridden plenty of good horses for J.P. and Iris’s Gift for Jonjo (in the 2004 Stayers’ Hurdle) and more for him as well.

“I’ve had great success over the years with both men and you couldn’t deal with nicer people. They’re a pleasure to ride for in every sense. They get so much pleasure out of winning but if things didn’t happen, they’re very level about defeat as well, which is very important and makes your job easier because you know you can go out and do your best and you’re not under any pressure. You can make a decision and you’re let ride your race.

“It’s a great comfort when you’re riding for people like that who aren’t going to second-guess you or scrutinise your decision. They’ll leave it with you.”

Which is wise when you have a conductor of the calibre of B.J. Geraghty directing operations. Even by the standards of recent seasons, he is enduring the purplest of patches right now. He may be busy, moving to the next track and next race, but he makes sure to smell the roses.

“When you’re younger it can pass you by quicker and you don’t maybe get a chance to appreciate it as much. I enjoy it. There’s nothing better than riding good horses and riding big winners - riding any winner - but especially winners at Cheltenham and Aintree, and to have had a good Fairyouse. It doesn’t get any better and I do appreciate it.”

As mentioned previously, he appreciates the people he rides for too, be it McManus, O’Neill, his primary boss Henderson, or Jessica Harrington, who gave him his first Irish National opportunity and had him in her yard within months of the youngster getting his licence.

The Harringtons’ close friendship with Henderson can’t have been any harm when the English handler was on the lookout for a top-flight pilot to replace the retiring Mick Fitzgerald, either.

So there was extra resonance to getting Jezki home in the Champion Hurdle, particularly as Johnny Harrington got to see it before passing away soon afterwards.

“It was brilliant to ride a Champion Hurdle winner for the Harringtons… It was only at Johnny’s funeral I really felt how important Jezki winning was for Johnny. I met him about a week before he passed away. And I knew from talking to Jessie and Kate and Emma Harrington that Johnny had got a big kick out of the Champion Hurdle.

“John Shortt was with him that day in the house. There was a good atmosphere I believe, and a bit of fun afterwards, so it’s only then that you realise the importance of that. So it was a good day.”

The relationship with Henderson has been fruitful and Geraghty is spoken of in the same breath as McCoy and Ruby Walsh, by the keenest analysts and punters alike.

Walsh set the template for commuting to England when linking up with Paul Nicholls but called time on the hugely successful endeavour 12 months ago, citing the drudgery of the travel and his desire to spend more time at home as the primary reasons. Geraghty isn’t contemplating cutting ties with Seven Barrows anytime soon.

“I’m enjoying it. You’re riding good horses, it’s a good job. There’s a bit of travelling involved but you get used to the travelling. I live close enough to the airport so I’ve a short spin in the morning to get there and when I touch down in Dublin I’m home in no time.

“I’d be home quicker from Kempton than I would be home from Mallow. I’ve often ridden in the 3.15 at Kempton and been home at six o’clock. You wouldn’t get back from a lot of places in Ireland as quick.”

There are times when he might go a couple of days without seeing Síofra (8) and Órla (2), as they might be in bed when he returns and not up when he departs. They haven’t ever known anything different though and it is as much a part of their routine as brushing their teeth in the morning after eating the healthy breakfast provided by their nutritionist mother.

“I suppose it’s harder for Paula because you can be a single parent half the week,” Geraghty notes.

That support is vital for the arrangement to be able to flourish but next week, there will be no airports to travel to ride the Henderson charges. The three-time English champion trainer has always been a keen supporter of the Punchestown Festival and last year, brought the incomparable Sprinter Sacre over.

Many rock stars have performed at the Kildare venue in the past but few will have delighted those that thronged the place, like the Network gelding.

“That was unbelievable. The whole day. Everyone was asking about Sprinter. I never saw a parade ring like it. It was 10-deep the whole way around. The atmosphere before, and the cheer when you came back in. It was unbelievable. It was a massive buzz and it was great that we got him over there and be the first horse since Istabraq to win at the three festivals. That shows how hard it is do. He’s in an elite club there.”

The good news is that “the reports are good so far” as the seven-year-old gelding continues his recuperation following his heart issues and while the scintillating two-mile chaser will only return to the track if back to his optimum levels, Geraghty is looking forward to resuming the partnership.

Before that though, there’s the “great buzz” of Punchestown and all that goes with it. Including more Geraghty winners.