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A certain cohort of racing fans, myself included, still lament the old days of the pin-sticking unpredictability of the Grand National with 40 moderate horses and their riders trying to negotiate 30 monstrous obstacles in an attempt to etch their names into the history books.
These days the majority of the fences are smaller than on a standard park course and with six fewer runners to get in each other's way, it has become a far more predictable affair, but surprisingly none of this has diminished its public appeal. At least not in Ireland.
My Racing StorySponsored By Tote
I'm from Moyglass, Co Tipperary and I had a pony at home which I rode out around the gallop at my grandfather's (trainer Matty Tynan) place. I'd see the lads riding out at home and I'd want to ride out with them. I kept asking my grandad and uncle, and they kept saying to wait a while, so I rode the ponies for a few years. Even before I started riding out, my grandad would come out with me after school every day on the pony. He taught me what to do and what not to do. He also helped me a lot when I was pony racing and he has been great in giving me that start.
By Gary Carson - GILLANE can make the breakthrough here in first time cheekpieces. The Gavin Cromwell-trained gelding has been placed twice since joining the yard and also hit the frame a couple of times for previous connections. He ran a solid race when runner-up at Wexford on St Patrick’s Day and a similar effort may be enough now. Mc Swagger stayed on nicely when third to The First Turn at Thurles, when last seen in October. He looks like an obvious danger. Treadonmydreams showed some promise on her return from a long absence when fourth in a strong contest at Naas. She’s another to consider.
