Intense Raffles and Iroko are vying for favouritism in the National, with the former coming out on top when the two horses met once before at Auteuil in 2021 (Picture. RTE.ie)
Sam Inkersole (Press Box PR – https://www.boylesports.com/sports/horse-racing)
1999 Grand National winning jockey Paul Carberry: My tip for the National I’ve been told is a “certainty” to win, the race isn’t as tough as it used to be and the winner this year will definitely be Irish trained.
The legendary ex-jockey has given his tip for the race year he has been told is a “certainty” to win, why the race isn’t as tough as it used to be, says Aintree is out on its own as a track, his biggest regret in the race, why it would be “unreal” if trainer Shark Hanlon won the race with €850 stable star Hewick, and plenty more!
2025 marks 50 years since Carberry’s father, Tommy, rode L’Escargot to victory in the World’s Greatest Steeplechase.
Legendary Irish jockey Paul Carberry on 50 years since his father won the Grand National with L’Escargot, his own win in 1999 on Bobbyjo, why Aintree is incomparable to any other track and his fancies for this year’s Grand National
Speaking to BoyleSports ahead of the Grand National on April 5, legendary Irish jockey Paul Carberry has reflected on his win in the World’s Greatest Steeplechase on board Bobbyjo in 1999 and revealed how he couldn’t believe it when he was about to win the most prestigious prize in racing
It is also 50 years since Carberry’s father, Tom, won the race on board L’Escargot in 1975
Carberry revealed why Aintree is “incomparable” as a track, how much he loves Liverpool, and why the race has been made a lot easier than it used to be thanks to recent changes to the fences
And lastly he has given his tip he has been told is a “certainty” to win this year
Growing up, I always watched the National and always wanted to win
I was only one when L’Escargot happened!
From L’Escargot to when I rode Bobbyjo, there was no winner from Ireland of the race, but now it is very common to have an Irish winner of the National.
Growing up through my childhood, the one race we always talked about was the English Grand National. I have watched every video of them all, it was always a race I wanted to win when I grew up as well.
I couldn’t believe I was finally going to win the race on Bobbyjo as I approached the final fence
It was brilliant. I remember the race very well, I went up the inside and he jumped great the whole way, I could set him up where I wanted to and then could pull him out, and once I did that he started to fly on.
I couldn’t quite believe it when I got to the last fence, how far I was gone and couldn’t believe I was going to win it.
He was capable alright but it was a race that I wanted to win so much, that’s why I couldn’t believe where I was. I had been in England for a few years and had then gone back to Ireland so I thought my only chance of winning the National was to stay there. Funnily enough, I came back home and then rode a winner for my father in it.
We had a big celebration afterwards – for a long time! First thing was swinging off the rafters in the winners’ enclosure and then we took over the Adelphi Hotel, they gave us a big room down the bottom and everybody came back there.
Well I was involved in breaking Bobbyjo in and I was involved in schooling him over poles when he was younger and he was always very good. He only got better when he went over fences, he was a perfect horse for it, a good stayer and a good jumper. It is a pretty simple thing really!
Not winning the race on Ad Hoc in 2002 was the one that got away
Ad Hoc, who I rode for Paul Nicholls in 2002, I got brought down at the third last fence by David’s Lad and Timmy Murphy. I was on the wide outside the whole way and he brought me down, I was absolutely cantering that day and he brought me down. I would have won it.
Also, King John’s Castle was second a few years later [won in 2008 by Comply Or Die], he just got tired and was a bit keen the whole way, if he hadn’t done that then he might have put it really up to him.
Aintree is way out on its own as a track – there isn’t another one like it
It is a lovely track, there is something very special about the place, even from a spectators point of view up in the stands too. It looks amazing and it is great to ride around, always a great buzz and the Liverpudlians are very nice people and welcoming.
It is definitely the world’s greatest steeplechase. Every time I rode over those fences I got the buzz, horses don’t give you the same feeling anywhere else than they do at Aintree, they give you that bit extra there and I fell in love with the track straight away, I couldn’t wait for every year to come around.
You have to not only ride your own horse around there, you really have to be aware of everyone else around you. You can very easily get brought down, you have to see what is jumping well and what’s not.
I liked the inside, you always get room there whereas plenty of other riders kept to the outside because you thought there was no room.
It’s an incomparable track. Aintree is way out on its own, there is no other track like it.
The Grand National is not as tough a race as it used to be
You don’t need the same horse now that you did a few years ago, that’s for sure. Horses years ago were proper jumpers, you really had to jump them, but now you don’t really have to. They just keep galloping and jump them quicker.
They have made the race faster than slower but I prefer it how it used to be. It was a thrill then, the thrill of the race has gone, it is not as tough as it used to be.
That said, it is still the biggest prize in racing, most definitely. I would always be looking out for it and looking out for a horse that I thought could be a National one.
There will definitely be an Irish-trained winner of the National this year
Definitely, yes. Intense Raffles is very good, he is a worthy favourite, speaking to a lad that works with Thomas Gibney and said he is a certainty for it. He is a very nice horse, he’s been targeted for the race. Everything has to go right on the day. I think the plan was always to go for the English National after winning the Irish one. They have done that now, they want the double.
Gavin Cromwell has a good couple of chances with Vanillier and Stumptown, they have good chances and some horses have good records from the Cross Country heading to Aintree, which Stumptown won this year.
The gap between the Cheltenham Festival and Aintree is too short – it needs to be a month minimum
It is a bit short, Inknothewayurthinkin is out of the National now. Ideally, a horse needs at least a month after running at Cheltenham to recover, they are not easy races there, it can take a bit of a toll.
It’s unfortunate, it just goes by Easter doesn’t it. It would be better if there was a month in between them. It is like Punchestown or Fairyhouse, you go to one or the other, you don’t train the same horse for both.
JP McManus has been the best man we have ever had in Irish racing and will probably be the best we ever will have
I rode a good few for him, a few nice winners and I would break horses for him too. He has probably been the best man for Irish racing that we have ever had and probably ever will have. He is so generous and looks after everybody from top to bottom. He just loves his racing too so it is great to see him winning all these big races.
The two he won the Gold Cup with he bred himself, so it is great, he is very needed in the racing community. He has helped it so much. Everybody would miss him, he can’t go forever but he has been a serious man for the sport.
It would be great for racing if Shark Hanlon were to get back to winning ways in the National with €850 horse Hewick
It would be unreal for Shark Hanlon to come back from his slap on the wrist. It would be great for racing for that to happen, he is having a great journey with the horse. He definitely has a chance, the trip and the ground will suit him, the fences will be no bother to him, I think he could run a great race.
Intense Raffles is my tip to win the Grand National – but watch out for Gavin Cromwell
I think that Intense Raffles will be very hard to beat, I know Keith Donoghue is sweet on Stumptown too. It would be nice to see him run well but I think those two will be the main two I’ll be following. I’d give Vanillier a squeak too.
