Turf Talk Newsletter – 1 April, 2025

2025 NYS Ticks A Lot Of Boxes - Molly Column

This Wilgerbosdrift Stud-bred Gimmethegreenlight colt was the top lot of day one of the BSA National Yearling Sale last year, purchased for R6,000,000 by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

David Mollett

The phrase “ticks a lot of boxes” has become popular and it would be accurate to say this describes the forthcoming National Yearling Sale which is scheduled for Germiston on 10 and 11 April.

So – if one was looking for the boxes the sale ticked – this I believe would be some of the plus factors.

1. For years, the Sale has been a happy hunting ground for both vendors and buyers. The former travel to the complex confident they’ll get a fair price for what they are offering. The latter have many lots to choose from (though the total of 346 is less than last year) with both established sires and new ones to run their eyes over.

2. BSA CEO, Michael Holmes, who learnt the trade under the tutorship of the great late Chris Smith, has his team as organised as Livrerpool boss, Arne Slot, will have everything covered to see the two days run smoothly. His side includes sales liaison officer, Heather Morkel, a lady with years of experience in the bloodstock industry, and former top trainer, Alistair Gordon.

3. The easing of travel restrictions (Adrian Todd’s hard work has finally paid off) means owners of top horses bred here can now look to the United States, Europe, Dubai and Hong Kong to make serious money on their investments.

4. The opening of these doors should embolden foreign bloodstock agents to encourage their clients to get involved in the sale. The exchange rate makes the yearlings serious value for money. Last year the Hong Kong Jockey Club secured the top lot – a Gimmethegreenlight colt from Wilgerbosdrift – for R6 million. Every reason to expect they will be involved once again.

5. The two main auctioneers, New Zealander Steve Davis and Andrew Miller, are two of the best in the business and have built up an important rapport with both trainers and leading buyers. They know just when to push the buttons of those bidding when it comes to the top lots.

6. Countrywide sales have proved the popularity of top sire, Vercingetorix. His progeny are as sought after as a front-row ticket to a Taylor Swift concert!

This time Silvano’s son is represented by 29 lots and vendors going to the sale with his offspring will be licking their lips.

7. A son of Vercingetorix sold for R9 million at the recent Cape sale – is there a lot to better that at Germiston? Possibly, because Klawervlei Stud (as agent) are offering the half-sister to champion, Captain’s Ransom.

Klawervlei are the kind sponsors of this column so it wasn’t difficult to get the view on the filly from John Koster. He commented: “She is a very feminine filly with loads of quality and very good balance – a really athletic-looking filly. Being a filly, she has massive paddock potential as well.”

8. An interesting factor is whether last year’s excellent sale can be repeated. In their 2024 post-sale report headlined “National Fireworks!”, the Sporting Post commented that “the Sale may well be looked at in years ahead as two days that firmly placed SA horse racing back on the road to a sustainable recovery.”

To say that BSA CEO, Michael Holmes, was happy with last year’s aggregate of R200 million and average of R581 948 is an understatement. So what figures will have him smiling this year?

“I am extremely confident we will achieve the same aggregate and average levels – no-one likes to go backwards and we don’t see that happening,” commented the 62 year-old who was as shrewd a signing by BSA as Harry Kane for Bayern Munich!

Michael also believes he has a trump card compared to 12 months ago. “This year we are expecting more international interest than ever before and this is the direct result of improved export protocols.”

So all roads lead to Germiston on April 10 and 11 – quite possibly we’re headed for “National Fireworks2”.

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Hollywood opened the betting on the Durban July recently and Turf Talk editor, David Thiselton, had a stab at the antepost market nominating 33-1 shot, Legend Of Arthur, as a horse to be interested in.
After Saturday’s TAB SA Derby at Turffontein, it’s not an excellent tip – it’s an outstanding one.
The big question is whether TT followers reacted immediately to David’s tip – if they did they’ll be smiling from ear to ear as the latest Hollywood price for Legend Of Arthur for the July is 8.33-1.

Legend Of Arthur is trained by Sean Tarry who is no stranger to July success following victories by Pomodoro and Heavy Metal for his much-missed former chief patron, Chris van Niekerk. He confirmed on Saturday that the July is “on the radar” for the R925000 son of Lancaster Bomber.

So what is this columnist’s early July fancy? The answer is Red Palace (16.67-1 with the sponsors) who is now in the care of Dean Kannemeyer also someone who knows how to win SA’s most popular race.

Dean had only had Red Palace for a short while when she contested the WSB Met at Kenilworth on January 25. The daughter of Potala Palace – the only filly in the race – turned in a good performance finishing sixth just a length and a quarter behind the winner, Eight On Eighteen.

Red Palace is only four years old and won over 2000m at Greyville at the end of last season.

The country’s media will probably be looking for something to beat Eight On Eighteen and his ante-post price of 7.14-1 makes little appeal especially as Richard Fourie will have left Turffontein on Saturday wondering whether Legend Of Arthur might be the better ride.

Despite continuing his great form on Saturday, I’m seriously worried about my wager on Gavin Lerena for the championship because – for keen fisherman Fourie – going to Fairview every Friday is like mackerel fishing. The winners just jump on his line courtesy of trainer Alan Greeff.

Gimmethegreenlight Notches Up 75th Stakes Winner

Green Diamond wins the Grade 2 TAB SA Nursery and kickstarts a fine weekend for her owners and breeders Drakenstein Stud. (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

Cape Breeders

South Africa’s reigning champion sire Gimmethegreenlight came up with his 75^th stakes winner when his daughter Green Diamond won the G2 TAB SA Nursery (1160m) at Turffontein on Saturday.

Trained by Sean Tarry, the two-year-old had finished second, in the Listed Wilgerbosdrift Ruffian Stakes, on debut, and duly showed her class in Saturday’s R500 000 contest.

Always prominent in running, under a well judged ride from Craig Zackey, Green Diamond hit the front someway from home and she stayed on strongly to account for some promising male rivals in stylish fashion.

Bred and owned by Drakestein Stud, Green Diamond joins Lucky Lad as a G2 SA Nursery winner sired by Gimmethegreenlight.

Green Diamond is out of the Trippi mare Lesedi La Rona and is thus bred on the same Gimmethegreenlight/Trippi cross as such G1 winners as Gimme A Prince and She’s A Keeper.

The filly is the second stakes winner to have emerged from her champion sire’s current crop of two-year-olds with Gimmethegreenlight’s current crop of two-year-olds also including the Drakenstein Stud bred and owned Listed Heineken Summer Juvenile Stakes winner Wild Wild Green.

Multiple champion sire Gimmethegreenlight has an excellent draft on offer at the National Yearling Sale, with his offering including a colt (Lot131) out of G2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas heroine Heaps Of Fun, filly (Lot 225) out of G1 SA Oaks winner Pine Princess, and a colt (Lot 274) from the same female line as legendary stallion Dubawi.

William Robertson - Rafeef's 3rd Computaform Sprint Winner Is Special

William Robertson emerges victor of the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint much to the joy of connections and many punters around the country. (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Cape Breeders

Ridgemont’s G1 Computaform Sprint winning stallion Rafeef came up with his third G1 Computaform Sprint winning son when his gelded son William Robertson win the G1 TAB Computaform Sprint (1000m) at Turffontein on Saturday.

William Robertson joins Master Archie (2022) and Thunderstruck (2024) as a Computaform Sprint winning son of Rafeef.

The Corne Spies trained six-year-old picked up his first Grade One triumph when he won Saturday’s R1 000 000 sprint.

Under an inform Ryan Munger, the charismatic William Robertson made it four wins from his last five starts when victorious on Saturday.

Now a 15 time winner, William Robertson hit the front full of running and he stayed on strongly to land the 2025 G1 TAB Computaform Sprint by a neck.

Bred by Ridgemont Highlands, William Robertson, runner up in the 2023 G1 Jonsson Workwear Computaform Sprint, has four graded wins to his name, with the gelding having claimed the 2025 G3 TAB J J The Jet Plane Stakes last time out, as well as the 2022 G2 Topbet Mike O’Connor Joburg Spring Challenge and 2023 G3 Tony Ruffel Stakes.

William Robertson, out of the Trippi mare Massachusetts, is bred on the same Rafeef/Trippi cross as G3 winner Leaving Las Vegas.

His red hot sire Rafeef is also the sire of promising two-year-old Esteemed, who ran a close second in Saturday’s G2 TAB SA Nursery.

Spies Racing compiled a compelling poem n honour of William Robertson which deserves publishing.

The poem is printed below:

On Saturday, in the thunderclap moment where noise becomes silence, and then silence becomes awe, William Robertson—the horse, the legend, the living metronome of Spies Racing—did what destiny had threatened to let slip for years. He won the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint.

For those watching, time buckled.

The gates clanged open and he was nowhere and everywhere all at once, a shadow tucked behind the pulse of the leaders. The crowd leaned in—Mover And Shaker, Cruise Control, the bright chaos of bodies—and then, through the cracking dust and spit-slick wind, came the impossible: he found more.

He surged.

He surged not just for himself, but for a stable, for a partnership, for a damn story. Not since Sisyphus reached the summit has a grind felt more earned.

Six years old.

42 starts.

15 wins.

Over R3 million earned.

But none so sweet, none so aching with joy and time and bone and breath, as this one.

The 2025 Computaform Sprint.

Ours.

This was the first Grade 1 for William Robertson. The first Computaform Sprint for Spies Racing. The first for Keegan Govender and Jannie de Lange, who now wake each morning with the taste of glory lingering behind their teeth. To Rob & Sue Macnab, who have been stalwart supporters of the stable for years, they more than deserves this.

It was also a testament to a team who work in a world that never stops turning.

To our grooms, our track riders, to every backstretch whisperer and pre-dawn silhouette, thank you.

To Melandie Taljaard, our veterinary sentinel, whose hands carry both scalpel and salvation—thank you.

To Ryan Munger, the jockey that made destiny manifest, we thank you.

To Duncan, our farrier, we extend our happiest thanks.

Without you, this could not have happened.

And above all, to the owners who kept the faith through every second-place finish, every near-miss, every almost that could have been the end: Messrs R P Macnab, Keegan Govender, X Spies, Waste Glass Recovery (Pty) Ltd (Nom: J H de Lange)

You have carved your names into the eternal ledger.

William Robertson didn’t just win. He claimed what was owed.

He turned a race into narrative.

A finish into fate.

A moment into myth.

Long live the lion.

Long live the roar.

Long live William Robertson.

Fire Attack Raised 10 Points To 126

Fire Attack being led in after his Gr 1 HKJC World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge triumph. (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

Handicapping Ratings Update (NHA Press Release).

TAB SA DERBY (Grade 1)

LEGEND OF ARTHUR’S official merit rating was raised to 117 from 109 after he won the Grade 1 TAB SA Derby for 3-year-olds over 2450m at the Turffontein Standside track on Saturday. The Handicappers believed that GREY JET had confirmed his SA Classic performance, where he initially earned his rating of 108, and used him to rate this race, leaving his rating unchanged.

The runner-up, WILD INTENT, demonstrated a significantly higher performance in the Listed World Sports Betting Hawwaam Stakes and had to be capped at 99.

Extract from Listed World Sports Betting Hawwaam Stakes Press Release:

Due to the specific conditions of this race, the winner had to be capped at a maximum of 6 points and placed runners to 3 points. Consequently, IMMEDIATE EDGE had to be limited to a rating of 94 despite performing at a much higher level. The narrowly beaten runner-up WILD INTENT had to be capped at a rating of 99 despite performing at a higher level.

WILD INTENT has now been adjusted to his performance figure of 116 after his run in the TAB SA Derby.

Three other horses received merit rating increases. SOLAR SAIL’S rating increased to 115 from 86, while IMMEDIATE EDGE, who finished 4.70 lengths (equivalent to 7 points) behind the 108-rated line horse at level weights, had his rating increased from 94 to 101. Lastly, COUNT HUHTIKUU received a partial adjustment of six points, moving from 79 to 85.

There were no merit rating decreases for any of the horses in this race.

HKJC WORLD POOL PREMIER’S CHAMPIONS CHALLENGE (Grade 1)

Following his victory in the HKJC World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge (Grade 1) over 2000m, FIRE ATTACK has had his merit rating adjusted to 126 from 116. The Handicappers deemed ATTICUS FINCH, who finished in fourth place, to be the ideal line horse for the rating of this race, leaving him unchanged on a rating of 121.

The runner-up, ROYAL VICTORY, went up to his previous best rating of 125 from 124.

CHESTNUT BOMBER was the only horse to receive a drop in the ratings, going down to 101 from 104.

TAB COMPUTAFORM SPRINT (Grade 1)

Top-rated WILLIAM ROBERTSON maintained his official merit rating of 128 following his victory in the Grade 1 TAB Computaform Sprint over 1000m. In this race, CRUISE CONTROL, the fourth-place finisher, was designated as the line horse, and his rating remained unchanged at 118.

Two horses received upward adjustments in their ratings. WINDS OF CHANGE, who finished third, was increased to 121 from 107, and TIME FO ORCHIDS was raised to 109 from 107.

There were slight drops for two horses. LUCKY LAD was reduced to 124 from 125, and CHOCOLATE SOLDIER went down to 114 from 115.

TAB EMPRESS CLUB STAKES (Grade 1)

FATAL FLAW has had her merit rating adjusted to 120 from 115 after impressively landing the TAB Empress Club Stakes (Grade 1) over 1600m for fillies and mares at weight-for-age terms. The Handicappers were unanimous in their assessment that the third-place finisher, WHITE PEARL, was the most suitable line horse to assess this race, leaving her rating unchanged on 114.

There were no other changes to the ratings of any other runners in this race.

WILGERBOSDRIFT BRIDGET OPPENHEIMER SA OAKS (Grade 2)

Top-rated FIERY PEGASUS retained her official merit rating of 119 after holding on to secure victory in the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Bridget Oppenheimer SA Oaks for 3-year-old fillies over 2450m. The runner-up, WORLD OF ALICE, who also finished behind FIERY PEGASUS in the SA Fillies Classic, was identified as the ideal line horse to assess this race, keeping her rating unchanged at 108

There were merit rating increases for no fewer than four horses in this race. Third-place finisher, COCOMELON, went up to 106 from 90, fourth-place finisher HAT’S QUEEN was raised to 105 from 96. TODOQUE was increased to 100 from 92, and PARTY PUNCH was increased to 81 from 77.

No runner received a drop in their ratings in this race.

TAB HAWAII STAKES (Grade 2)

Top Rated MAIN DEFENDER’S official merit rating remained unchanged at 130 following his victory in the TAB Hawaii Stakes (Grade 2) over 1400m. The Handicappers used third-place finisher TEXAS RED as the line horse to assess this race, leaving his rating unchanged at 115.

The runner-up, COSMIC SPEED, had his rating adjusted to 125 from 120, while FIRE ‘N FLAMES was partially increased from 101 to 108 due to his overall profile.

BARBARESCO was the only runner to receive a drop in the ratings, going down slightly to 124 from 125.

4RACING CARADOC GOLD CUP (Listed)

Best weighted MY SOUL MATE, who fought courageously to clinch victory in the Listed 4Racing Caradoc Gold Cup over 2850m, has had her official merit rating adjusted from 106 to 107. The Handicappers opted to use the fourth-place finisher, TWENTY DRACHMAS, to rate this race, leaving his rating unchanged on 93.

Interestingly, the two best-weighted horses in the race, MY SOUL MATE and EXPLOSIVE BOND, secured the first and second positions respectively, filling the exacta and yielding a payout of R136.20.

Two other horses received upward adjustments in their ratings. The runner-up, EXPLOSIVE BOND, was raised to 99 from 97, while NEBRAAS was adjusted to 99 from 98.

There were no merit rating drops for any horse in this race.

The Effectiveness of the Rating System

The highest-rated horses in all but one race – PARISIAN WALKWAY, who achieved his highest performance figure over 1600m – claimed the top four positions in each of this past weekend’s Grade 1 and Grade 2 races (excluding the two-year-old races). This provides strong validation regarding the effectiveness of the rating system.

These results suggest that the current rating system is highly reliable in assessing horses’ relative performances.

Additionally, the three-year-olds have once again showcased their progress when competing in open company. Standout 3-year-old performers in open company from this past weekend’s racing include FATAL FLAW (winner), COSMIC SPEED (2nd place), WINDS OF CHANGE (3rd place), and Fire Attack (winner).

In fact, three-year-olds have secured victories in Grade 1 weight-for-age races throughout the season, including the L’Ormarins King’s Plate, the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met, the Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes, the TAB Empress Club Stakes, and the HKJC World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge.

Enquiries:

The Handicapping Team

Drakenstein And Varsfontein Duelling For Stakes Winners Leaders

The Alan Greeff-trained Golden Palm was the first of three stakes winners bred by Varsfontein Stud at Turffontein Standside on Saturday and he might well have become the first East Cape-based horse to win a Graded two-year-old feature on the Highveld. (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

Drakenstein have broken the record for stakes winners in a season for the last three seasons in succession and gave themselves a chance of doing it for a fourth time when having no fewer than four new individual stakes winners this past weekend, Green Diamond (Gr 2 TAB SA Nursery), Legend Of Arthur (Gr 1 TAB SA Derby), Green Sapphire (Gr 3 Umzimkhulu Stakes) and Oxalis Gold (Gr 3 Byerley Turk)).

Drakenstein set a new record in the 2021/22 season with 18 individual stakes winners then broke their own record in the following two seasons with 20 and 21 individual stakes winners respectively.

They are currently sitting on 14 stakes winners for the 2024/2025 season with four months still to go, so they are exactly on schedule to equal their record of 21.

However, Varsfontein are on their heels with 13 individual stakes winners this season.

This weekend Varsfontein had Golden Palm (Gr 2 TAB SA Fillies Nursery) as a new stakes winner and both Main Defender (Gr 2 TAB Hawaii Stakes) and My Soul Mate (Listed 4Racing Caradoc Gold Cup) won their first stakes races of this season.

They are also just about on record pace and the duel between them and Drakenstein will create another point of intrigue for the remainder of the season.

Fireburst Can Convert Hardknocking Form

Fireburst has been tipped to win Race 7. (JC Photos).

Hollywoodbets Scottsville Wednesday Formguides And Selections

R1 Summary: Mostly first timers but of those that have run, BERRINGTON BLEW (3) made a smart debut at long odds on debut over 1000m but was second best when going a furlong further next run. He can go one better over this trip. BLACK FROST (13) has had three bits at the cherry and shows some ability with a runner-up berth last time out behind the promising Treaty Of Paris. CAPTAIN’S PRIDE (4) has been placed in both of her outings and can make an impression. Watch the betting on the first timers. (Andrew Harrison: 3-4-13-12).

R2 Summary: TREASURE ISLAND (2) has finished close up in both starts and given the experience she rates the horse to beat. MALSHANA MOU (8) found some market support on debut but raced very green. She comes from a yard that knows how to set up juveniles. LIMITLESS SKY (3) was a distance third last run and can improve. (Andrew Harrison: 2-8-3-4).

R3 Summary: Tough opener for the PA. Less than a length separated MISS DANON (1) and MOSCOW MISS (2) when both were making their debut. They were still six lengths adrift of the winner but experience could count. The balance that have run have shown little but can improve. A race to watch in the betting. (Andrew Harrison: 1-2-3-5).

R4 Summary: Modest field of maidens. LONG STREET (6)was a beaten favourite last run and has not been far back at her last two. Battling but must have a decent chance in this line-up. AUSTRIAN BEAUTY (11) has been making steady progress and although carrying top weight she has a good chance of making the frame. YOUR LADYSHIP (8) was a long way back when making her debut at Hollywoodbets Durbanville but can do better here. LIGHTINTHEDARKNESS (3) is another struggler but has a money chance on her best effort. (Andrew Harrison: 6-11-8-3).

R5 Summary: ROYAL MERMAID (1) is lightly raced and her best effort was on the turf. From a good draw she must have a strong chance in another moderate line-up. CALL ME HARRIET (100 was disappointing on the poly last run but started at long odds.. She was runner-up to the smart Mocha Blend at her penultimate start which puts her in with a big chance here. UMZOLOZOLO (7) has shown some ability. She was not far back at her last two and the step up in trip could suit. ROY’S GRACE (3) jumps in trip but has shown ability over shorter. She must have a strong chance if she stays the extra. (Andrew Harrison: 1-10-7-3).

R6 Summary: DANCING ON A CLOUD (2) made a promising debut and was well supported in the market. If he comes on from that run he should make a bold bid in spite of top weight. GREEN MILE (4) has been knocking on the door for some time now. He goes well this trip and will be a runner. O SPACE O (7) was a beaten favourite last run after a smart local debut. Both starts were over course and distance in blinkers and he should feature again. DEE DAY (10) is seldom far off them and can feature with this weight. (Andrew Harrison: 2-4-7-10).

R7 Summary: FIREBURST (2) has come to hand nicely at recent outings. She has a favourable draw and a handy galloping weight. FAIZAH (1) has a 4kg claimer aboard but was close-up from a tough draw last run and is now drawn pole. Stable companion ICY LANCASTER (11) has drawn widest but showed some improvement last outing and this could well be her trip. GRAND OCCASION (4) shed her maiden over this distance and can do better than her last effort in soft ground. (Andrew Harrison: 2-11-1-4).

R8 Summary: The grey ROMAN AGENT (4) makes his debut for a new stable with first time blinkers. He comes of some fairly useful Cape Town form in feature company and he could prove too good in this line-up. GO GRAYSON GO (7) is smart but all of his recent form has been over a mile. He has been a beaten favourite at his last two but the drop in trip could suit in this company. STANLEY PARK (1) goes well over course and distance and should be competitive with a 4kg claimer aboard. AGRADO (3) is seldom far back and was not disgraced when trying further from a wide draw although the winner started at long odds. (Andrew Harrison: 4-7-1-3).

R9 Summary: Tricky end to the Pick 6. GOLDEN CHANDELIER (2) makes her debut for a new stable. She has been off the boil for some time now but showed plenty of early potential. If back to be she could be hard to beat but the betting could tell a story. RUGGER LOVER (8) is a hard-knocker and will be there to pick up the pieced. MIA’S ATHENA (3) was highly regarded early in her career but has had problems. She returns from a long break but could surprise. HURRICANE CAT (6) is quick and over her best trip. (Andrew Harrison: 2-8-3-6).

R10 Summary: WISSA’S ON FIRE (1) was narrowly beaten when making is local debut and can go one better over the extra furlong. LEXICAN POINT (11) makes his local debut for a new stable and comes with some fair Cape form. Definitely one to watch in the market. INGQWELE (6) showed up well when making a return after a break. He has started favourite on many occasions when trying further but could prove more competitive over sprints. DAPPER (2) makes his debut for his new stable. He was not far back over course and distance last time out when dropping in trip and can feature. (Andrew Harrison: 1-11-6-2).

Sam Waley Cohen Looks At Saturday's Grand National And His Own Win

Sam Waley Cohen salutes after winning the Grand National on Noble Yeats. (Picture: Sky Sports Racing)

Exclusive interview with Sam Waley-Cohen: How I celebrated my 2022 Grand National win on Noble Yeats, Iroko is my big tip for the National this year and there is no question I’d be willing to work for the racing’s governing bodies to secure its future

Speaking ahead of the Aintree Grand National Festival, 2022 National winning jockey Sam Waley-Cohen has told BoyleSports about his memories of the day and what it takes to win the iconic race.

Waley-Cohen retired on the day of his win, which remains one of the most memorable in recent years, with him being an amateur jockey, the first to achieve the feat in 32 years as he steered Noble Yeats to a famous victory.

He also spoke about the future of the BHA and hasn’t ruled out lending a hend to help the future of the sport.

Waley-Cohen was speaking to BoyleSports, who offer the latest Grand National odds https://www.boylesports.com/sports/horse-racing

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Aintree has established itself in its own right as a pretty outstanding festival hasn’t it?

I think the quality of racing at Aintree is as good or nearly as good as racing you can see anywhere in the world.

You’ve got I think it’s four grade ones on Thursday and the big hitters come out and take their chances. You don’t quite get the sort of Anglo-Irish clash in the same way as you do at Cheltenham, but I like that.

It suits different horses in different ways and, of course, the National course adds to the whole intrigue. The supporting cards are really outstanding.

And then the National day and the race itself, is a celebration of British racing but also part of our cultural heritage, isn’t it? It’s a formative memory for so many people.

There seems to be less pressure and people enjoy the racing more at Aintree?

I agree, the Grade 1s at Aintree don’t feel quite as high-octane as the Grade Ones at Cheltenham. And I guess often, you do get an outright winner. The racing isn’t always as tight as at Cheltenham.

It’s also towards the end of the season. The season’s sort of baked, more or less. Cheltenham makes or breaks your season in so many ways and then there’s Punchestown to wrap things up, that’s if anyone has anything left in the tank!

You know what it takes to win over the National fences better than anyone. You won seven times. What does it take in terms of approach and strategy?

The race has changed a lot but it goes without saying you need the right horse. Some horses grow and love it and some horses shrink and hate it and it’s still true today as it was ever.

I first rode it in 2004. I first won a race there in 2005. The fences obviously have changed a lot over the 18 years, and even since when I stopped racing. The truth is that the horses that loved it when they were the old-style fences, took to it and grew, and it’s exactly the same now.

I rode horses you thought were going to be brilliant, and they didn’t take to it at all – you don’t know if you’ve got the right horse until it’s taken them on!

And then you need a horse with real courage because there is a different level of hurly burly, a different atmosphere. The Aintree Grand National paddock is like no other paddock in racing in terms of the atmosphere around it and the razzamatazz.

So, you need a horse that can cope with that, one that has that sort of mentality. Many races are lost before you get to the start, horses can get totally intimidated by it.

You’ve got to get through the tunnel – getting through the tunnel onto the racecourse is a challenge. You need a horse that can cope with the day, cope with the atmosphere and be lifted by that, not be intimidated by that.

Recall the race when you won on Noble Yeats and your tactics and approach?

The perceived wisdom is front third, find a bit of space on the first circuit, just try and get jumping and still get a nice rhythm. The race has become more tactical than it probably was historically because the fences are more forgiving.

The real challenge is to relax your horse, get in a rhythm, get balanced, and don’t do too much. And then try and save something because a lot of horses don’t get home.

In the end, the winner is the horse that’s well handicapped and well enough handicapped for the distance. It’s how you can do as little as possible for as long as possible and sneak yourself into the race.

You couldn’t have wished for a better finale to your career. It was like someone wrote a script for you! What did it feel like?

It was a really weird few days for me – on the Thursday I rode Jett in the Foxhunters’ who I’d ridden in the National the year before.

As a family we’d given the trophy in 2005 for the Foxhunters’ in memory of my brother Thoams who died from cancer. The first year that we gave it, we won it with Katarino.

Jett was the hot favourite for the Foxhunters’ in 2022 and I had it in my mind’s eye that he was going to win this trophy and top and tail my Aintree life by winning it.

But Jett ran an absolutely horrendous race. By the time I got to the first fence, he didn’t want to be there. By the time I got to about the fourth fence, I didn’t want to be there. And by about the sixth, we were thinking about when we could pull up.

After that race I announced my retirement would be after the National, which is always an emotional moment.

In the race itself I remember seeing Noble Yeats as I came into the paddock. And he did not look like a horse you want to get on! He was little and brown and hairy – you definitely wouldn’t have selected him.

You always sort of pick on the experiences you had before to learn, so we decided to put earplugs on him so he didn’t get overwhelmed in the paddock and to settle him down.

There was a previous National when I got stuck in the tunnel. A horse in front of me got anxious and wouldn’t go through. I got stuck in the middle with horses behind me and the horse wouldn’t go in front and we basically lost our race in the blinking tunnel.

That was 2017 and I was riding The Young Master. By the time I got onto the racecourse, he’d completely lost the plot. And that did not go to plan.

So, in 2022 we decided we’d put the earplugs on to try to ensure we don’t get stuck in the tunnel. I was not going to go | into the tunnel until the horse in front of us had cleared the tunnel so we don’t get stuck in that again.

And so all these like little bits that you picked up from previous misadventure, came into play a little bit.

Basically, he’s just a very peculiar horse, so you have to sort of charm him along a little bit. I’d ridden him at Cheltenham at the festival where he took ages to get him into rhythm in the Ultima.

When I pulled him out and showed him some light, he closed up the gap. He always kept plenty for himself. In the National, he jumped off characteristically slowly, as he always does.

The first circuit, or at least the first half of the first circuit was everything you don’t want to be; not close enough to the pace, not jumping very fluently and not really having a proper cut.

As we jumped the Canal turn, you just started building your confidence, enjoying it and rolling on a bit more. We actually tagged onto the back of the sort of front half.

The train was rolling along. I used to like to try and get on the bend coming back off the National course onto the Mildmay course. You can make up a bit of distance, if you’re four or five wide, you actually make up a length or so.

The move that really made a difference was at the fence before The Chair. I got right in behind Sean Bowen and got a bit unsighted on the inside and Noble Yeats made a hash of it.

I knew I had got to find some space for him because I was not going down to The Chair stuck in this pocket. We were going to meet a bad end if we do that.

He then ran on, because you angle out towards the elbow to get to The Chair, there was a space on the inner.

Retrospectively, if it hadn’t been my last ride, I’d never have been brave enough because Sean would have had his revenge on me! But I managed to slip up his inner and got in a really nice position.

I look back at the video and there’s a view of Sean sort of looking at me going and asking, ‘What are you doing there?!’ I told him, ‘I didn’t mean to be here!’ Because I’d gone up his inner, which is a sort of cardinal offense really, I had to keep going forward.

By the time he went out for the second circuit, he was exactly where I wanted him to be, which was getting a nice lead, getting towed along. And I could just let him jump and enjoy himself and keep him traveling along. And then obviously the race is on.

I probably had ridden the National course 40 times and was probably competitive in 20 finishes on the Grand National course. I really knew where I wanted to be.

But I met the last on completely the wrong stride and basically had to just keep my hands still and hope to hell that Noble Yeats sorted it out which he did. He fiddled it, jumped it neatly and that was the sort of moment of destiny.

Noble Yeats has a real turn of foot. He is hard to get running, but when he does he’s really quite quick. Once he was gone that was it and there was no holding back.

Afterwards everyone’s congratulating you and the other jockeys are congratulating you and it’s just totally overwhelming.

My brother came up and then my Dad; everyone I knew was there and basically crying. It was quite a surreal moment and then, once you’re weighed in, it’s a whirlwind.

How did you celebrate?

We had about 20 friends to celebrate. My kids were there, my parents were there, my wife was there. So, we all got together and had champagne. I hadn’t changed and was still in my silks. That was just a real elation after that.

There’s a moment when you ride your last race where you think, ‘Well I hope I don’t break my neck in this one.’ but I had fulfilled my boyhood dream. Everybody was going mad basically and then because the odds were so long everyone had made a small fortune.

You talked about the fences, obviously they’ve been softened slightly to accommodate understandable concerns about welfare. The race has to evolve to stay relevant doesn’t it?

No question, the race has to keep adjusting, has to keep evolving, but it is a balance and we’ve to make sure that we as an industry understand the values and the approach that we want to take, but also make sure that we’re responding to society’s view.

What I think is amazing about Aintree is it has really the world’s leading equine welfare set up in terms of the number of vets, in terms of the ground, in terms of the facilities and the cooling off areas.

Of course we should keep making sure it’s as safe as possible.

Do you think the right balance has been struck between challenge and safety?

Yeah, I do think there’s a good balance. It’s the right place now. Do I think there’s a world where I might go back to having 40 horses?

I think that would probably be okay. I’d be an advocate for that. But would I be an advocate for making the fences more ferocious or anything else? No, no I wouldn’t.

Who are your fancies this year?

I think Iroko. It’s been his target. He looks the right profile, I think he’ll run a great race.

The Greenalls have been great friends. I used to race against Tom and Ollie as amateurs, so it’d be wonderful for that to come off for them.

I can also see Bravemansgame running a big race. He looks well handicapped versus his peak. For one with longer odds, I quite like the look of him. It’s still a race with plenty of jeopardy. So, you don’t just have to go for the short price ones.

Oliver’s father Lord Daresbury was so closely associated with Aintree for so long and for Iroko to win would be one of the great stories that the race keeps throwing up, wouldn’t it?

Exactly. He was integral to making the race what it is today, no question at all. So, it’s in the blood and it would be great.

At this time of year, is there an itch you want to scratch!?

I would be completely lying if I said I didn’t look at Cheltenham and Aintree and think, ‘That looks a bit of fun!’

No question, I’d love to ride there again. I miss the thrill of being part of that incredible partnership with a horse when you’re flying along, the horse is your partner and you’re sailing in that sort of meditative way over fences.

I miss that incredibly. I don’t miss the days where you think you’re going to win and you come 11th or you crash into the mud and sort of hobble home! Don’t worry I’m not going to do a Davy Russell and come out of retirement, tempting as it is.

Why do you think the National has captured the imagination in such an incredible way?

I think because it always has a story. It has a tale and so often the tale is not the one you’d expect. It’s about taking your chances and somebody having good fortune and somebody having misfortune.

I think in many ways the race compresses life into a short six minutes where someone has the best day of their life, someone has a terrible day. The outsider can win against all the odds.

It is the chaos of life in a short window and it’s a race for dreams and poets because there’s some magic in it.

Do you keep in touch with racing?

I still ride quite a lot, I still love it. Any chance to go on a horse, I still go on a horse. My kids are riding and we go out together. Just hacking.

Racing is facing quite a few headwinds. Can they be overcome and the sport flourish again?

I think it is in a difficult place, but I’m a huge believer that when the chips are down, it’s when people raise their game, when leadership comes to the fore,

I have every confidence that the sport of racing will go through this period of renewal, like so many sports before it, when they find ways to innovate and connect with their fans.

If there’s one thing that you could do if you had a magic wand to, if not cure the ills of the sport, but actually try and improve its wellbeing, what would that be?

It’s not an original answer but I think if more of the betting turnover flowed back into racing as you see in France and Ireland and other sporting nations it does lift all boats.

It allows the facilities to be invested in, the prize money to encourage others to go into ownership to create even better days. So, if there was a magic bullet, it would be to find a way to bring more funding in to allow that to reinvested back into the sport.

After your business career, do you see yourself putting something back into the sport in some capacity? And if so, what might that be? Running the BHA? The Jockey Club?

I keep quite close to sport. I was a Trustee at the Injured Jockeys’ Fund for a long time. I’m now a steward at the Jockey Club, helping them think about racing and how to go through this period of renewal.

Racing’s been so much in my life and means so much to me and it’s something I’m passionate about, so no question I would.

In an executive role, given obviously you tick every box in terms of business acumen, riding acumen, everything. You would be a perfect candidate. Would you answer the nation’s call?

There are so many ways to contribute and so I think whether it’s on the board of something or as a trustee or if I was asked to help, I’d be there to help. So, I wouldn’t rule anything out.