Especially if you are an amateur jockey about to turn 40 and having your last race ride!
That is the story of this year's Grand National, where a 7yo horse called Noble Yeats whose father is the wonderful and much adored Yeats was going round in the Grand National. He came into the care of Paul Byrne and his friend trainer Emmet Mullins (nephew of Willie) and they decided to set him for the Grand National, bypassing many of the usual races that lead to the big event. There was an offer for Noble Yeats and so he was sold to Robert Waley-Cohen but kept with Emmet and the plan for the big one.
Enter Sam Waley-Cohen, son of Robert, a very accomplished rider who knows Aintree very well and has even ridden in the Velke Pardubicke which proves he's fearless. Sam has a full-time business yet still finds time to ride out but as he's hitting the big 40 shortly he announced that this was to be his last ride and he would be hanging up the saddle after the race.
Since Noble Yeats was not well-known in the jumping world he went off at 50/1 and used every one of his father's genes to courageously fight off the favourite. Sam rode a perfect race on him, saving ground along the inside where possible and not pushing him out too soon.
Favourite Any Second Now made it a great battle to the line, Delta Work 10/1 took care of third and fourth went to Santini 33/1, making a very profitable pick 4! Of the others of note, Minella Times was most unlucky as got hampered and brought down at the 9th, Run Wil Fred probably ran too wild and came down at the 8th, Snow Leopardess was never in it and was pulled up and Blaklion 50/1 finished last of the finishers, with my 50/1 roughies book-ending the field!
Of the other races, Party Business and Three Stripes Life did the right thing and won their races, Edwardstone got overturned by Gentlean De Mee, Flooring Porter got nudged out by Sire du Berlais 16/1 and a similar fate for Shan Blue where Sam Brown 28/1 got his nose in front.
The weather was even sunny when it came to the big race, which is surely one that nobody will ever forget!
