This weekend all eyes are on Aintree and the Grand National festival. Yesterday, I was there with 4 rides with Bags Groove for Harry Fry who finished fourth in the Devenish Manifesto Novices’ Chase (Grade 1), Kalashnikov won the race well for Amy Murphy and Jack Quinlan, and she is another young trainer who is making her mark.
Today is Ladies Day, the racecourse will have a great buzz about it today even though the weather hasn’t been the most kind. This meeting is the highlight of the year for the town of Liverpool and the atmosphere is always electric. I have five rides today, including a ride over the Grand National fences in the Topham chase where I ride More Bucks for Dad. Like the National, you have to have a lot of luck over these big fences and we are hopeful to have a safe round and be competitive.
I also ride Lisnagar Oscar for Rebecca Curtis in the Doom Bar Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1), he ran well in the Albert Bartlett in Cheltenham last month and we are hoping he will run well again today. In the Betway Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) I am riding Winston C for Harry Fry, I recently won on him in Kelso and he gives it his all so I’d like to think he will run another good race.
Saturday is the big one, I ride Monbeg Notorious for Gordon Elliott in the Grand National. There are 40 runners all fighting to get their spot for the biggest race of the year and it is one of the biggest buzzes being in the race, I am hoping for a lot of luck and anything can happen. I am now riding If The Cap Fits for Harry Fry and Paul & Claire Rooney in the Ryanair Stayers Hurdle known as the Liverpool Hurdle which is a Grade 1 race, my brother James will ride Lord Napier for Dad.
Sunday I will be travelling back to Ffos Las, where I have five rides. In the bumper, I will be riding Winningseverything for Harry Fry. He won on his first outing in Market Rasen back in November and has a bit more experience than some of the others, however, there are a lot of unknown quantities in the field. I also ride Lord Bryan in the 2m7f handicap chase, he has finished third the last twice so hopefully he can go two better and take first prize.
