Turf Talk Newsletter – 25 March, 2025

Mike and son Mathew de Kock. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

By Mike Moon (The Citizen)

The De Kocks, Tarry and Peter have strong hands at Turffontein.

The national trainer championship is all over bar the shouting, but there are still plenty of big-race trophies and bagsful of prizemoney for the country’s hard-working conditioners to aim for.

Highveld trainers like Mike and Mathew de Kock, Sean Tarry and Tony Peter have their horses fighting fit for Saturday’s big race meeting at Turffontein – hoping to capitalise on the absence of Cape Town’s Justin Snaith, who is an hilarious 1-50 favourite to be 2024/25 champion.

The De Kock operation, revitalised by a newly hatched father/son partnership, looks particularly strong on the day, with several young, up-and-coming runners topping betting boards through the card.

Master strategist Tarry likes to time his seasonal campaigns to peak for the large purses on offer in autumn and winter. He saddles 13 horses on Saturday and it would be a surprise if he wasn’t rewarded.

Peter, youthful and energetic, is fiercely determined to establish his place among the training elite and knows that garlands and accolades on a prestigious race day decorate a route to the top.

Interestingly, back in the day, Snaith was an occasional upcountry raider – even winning the Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes with the mighty Dancer’s Daughter.

This time around, the Empress Club has attracted seven Joburg-based fillies. It’s a disappointingly small field but one packed with quality and an intriguing age split between three- and four-year-olds.

Lightly raced Spumante Dolce, from the De Kock yard, will start as the favourite – following three wins in a row at the start of her career. She performed badly in her last outing but was reported to have mucus in her trachea that day and we are advised to forget the run.

Stablemate White Pearl enters into betting considerations after a praiseworthy effort in male company in the recent Horse Chestnut.

VJ’s Angel
The principal threat to Spumante Dolce seems to be Peter-trained VJ’s Angel, a Grade 1 winner who looks handily weighted with her opposition.

Peter has Grade 1 Computaform Sprint aspirations with Pistol Pete and Golden Sickle. That duo and Tarry’s classy Lucky Lad take on Corne Spies’s popular war horse William Robertson in the 1000m dash.

Tarry and the De Kocks are expected to fight out the Grade 1 SA Derby with Legend Of Arthur and Immediate Edge respectively (although Wild Intent is weighted to beat Immediate Edge on the form of their clash in the Hawwaam Stakes over 2000m)..

The three prominent stables have a runner apiece in the meeting’s nominal headliner, the Grade 1 HKJC World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge, but none of them are in the frontline of the ante-post betting action.

All eyes will be on Alec Laird as he saddles the very smart three-year-old Fire Attack alongside Summer Cup winner Atticus Finch.

Defending champion Royal Victory makes the trip up from KwaZulu-Natal to his favourite course with trainer Nathan Kotzen – as does versatile Imilenzeyokududuma and Gavin van Zyl.

Grant van Niekerk got the substantial winning rider’s cheque for the R5 million Big Cap, but will be on the sidelines for 21 days and will have to fork out a R50,000 fine due to the interference he was adjudged by the stipendiary stewards to have caused at the 150m mark of that lucrative race. (Picture: Wayne Marks). 

Grant van Niekerk has been hit with a 21 day suspension and R50,000 fine for his ride in the R5 million Big Cap over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on March 16.

Van Niekerk rode the winner All Out For Six.

However, his mount caused interference in the straight when shifting inward, which ultimately cost the odds-on favourite One Stripe any chance of a fair run to the line.

One Stripe had to be snatched up at the 150m mark to avoid going over the rail as The Grey King was being pushed sideways on to him by All Out For Six.

One Stripe’s connections could not object as he only finished sixth.

All Out For Six might have won the race anyway, as he turned it on impressively, so the incident detracted from what could have been a great race.

The NHA sent out the following press release:

INQUIRY – JOCKEY G VAN NIEKERK

The National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa (NHA) confirms that at an Inquiry held in Cape Town on 25 March 2025, Jockey G van Niekerk was charged with a contravention of Rule 62.2.7.  The particulars being that whilst riding ALL OUT FOR SIX, he failed to ensure that he did not cause interference to THE GREY KING and ONE STRIPE when he shifted in at the 150m in Race 8, HSH Princess Charlene Big Cap, over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Racecourse on 16 March 2025.

Jockey G van Niekerk pleaded not guilty but was found guilty of the charge.

The Inquiry Board considered the mitigating and aggravating factors, which included the value and status of the race, as well as Jockey van Niekerk’s poor riding record pertaining to interference related contraventions.  A penalty of a suspension from riding in races for a period of twenty-one (21) days and a fine of fifty thousand rand (R50 000.00) was imposed.

Jockey van Niekerk was given the Right of Appeal against both the finding and the penalty imposed.

Enquiries:

Vee Moodley
Chief Executive

The four-year-old Roy Magner-trained Capetown Noir gelding Super Awesome gave Gavin Lerena a quick hattrack at the Vaal Classic track on Tuesday and that put him joint top of the national jockeys log. (Picture: JC Photos). 

In the most exciting jockeys championship race for years, there is now just one win separating three riders as a Gavin Lerena treble on the Vaal Classic track on Tuesday put him on 169 wins for the season together with reigning champion Richard Fourie, while the suspended Craig Zackey drops to third place on 168 wins.

Lerena’s 169 wins have come at a strike rate of 26.04% compared to Fourie’s 26.16%, while Zackey is riding to a strike rate of 18.44%.

Ryan Munger rode a double at the Vaal Classic meeting, while Sean Tarry and Tony Peter both had doubles.

Munger, who is riding here for the Canada off season, is on 35 wins and has achieved it at a strike rate of 19.34%.

Tarry is on 50 wins at 12.56%.

Peter is on 59 wins at 15.45%.

The Adam Marcus-trained five-year-old Twice Over gelding Tambourine Man goes for a hattrick in the sixth race at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Wednesday. (Picture:  Wayne Marks)

Graeme Hawkins (Gold Circle)

Following the weekend’s racing action in South Africa, defending Champion Richard Fourie (169w) edged into a slender lead over Craig Zackey (168w) and Gavin Lerena (166w) in the chase for the 2025 jockeys’ title. But Lerena reeled off a perfect hattrick over the last three races at the Vaal yesterday to eradicate Fourie’s lead and the pair are all square heading into this afternoon’s race meeting.

Fourie’s ride in the first race, a Maiden Plate over 2400m, has been scratched leaving Past and Present (JP van der Merwe) and Lerena’s mount Wood World the only two with realistic chances of victory. Past and Present is slightly preferred, but it would come as no surprise to see Lerena boot home Wood World for the Marshall stable.

Fourie should have the better of exchanges in the second race, an Open Maiden (F&M) over 1400m, riding the weak ante-post favourite, Wild Applause, for the Snaith team. On best form Wild Applause can certainly deliver for Fourie but she has chinks in her armour and Thingamabob may improve sufficiently off the back of a promising debut to score for Andre Nel and Corne Orffer, despite an awkward draw. Lerena rides Keep Happy for Lucinda Woodruff from pole position but the 3yo daughter of Trippi will need to improve to be factor.

There could be little to choose between Fourie and Lerena’s mounts in the third race, an Open Maiden over 1500m. Fourie partners Show Off for the in-form Brett & James Crawford team while Lerena does duty for Snaith aboard Gran Canaria who has his first run as a gelding. Monkey Puzzle, stable companion to Show Off, finished ahead of the less exposed Show Off last time and is not without a winning chance.

Fourie is an interesting booking for Pinot Grigio in the fourth race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1600m. Here he rides for the Ricky Maingard stable and the promising 3yo son of The United States comes off a slight break but has the form to be ultra-competitive. Lerena has been booked by Vaughan Marshall to ride Touchdown who failed narrowly over the track and trip last time when beaten a head by Okavango. The form of his penultimate start when third to Please Be True has been franked and Touchdown looks ready to deliver another bold performance. King’s Quest is the early favourite and could spoil the party while the Snaith pair of Unicorn Alert and Arbitration cannot be under-estimated.

The fifth race, a Class 5 Handicap over 1800m, looks a nightmare for punters but Summer Night City (Lerena) and All About Ronnie (Fourie) will have their supporters along with Midway who looks set to improve off a reduced mark. In the sixth race, a Cape D Stakes over 1250m, both Fourie and Lerena may need to take a back seat as Easy Money (Mxothwa) and the Adam Marcus pair, Tambourine Man (Domeyer) and True Horizon (Van der Merwe) look the principals on current form. That said Nile The Boss (Fourie) and Ischyro (Lerena) are not chanceless in this low-grade affair.

One of Lerena’s better rides comes in Race 7, a Class 4 Handicap (F&M) over 1250m, when he re-unites with Sohot Sowhat for the Lucinda Woodruff stable. Lerena has ridden Sohot Sowhat in all four starts to date and the 3yo daughter of Soqrat is holding her form very nicely. While the plum draw is an added advantage for Sohot Sowhat, the consistent Captain’s Destiny is weighted to turn the tables on Lerena’s mount, and it could be hard-fought affair. Watch out for a much better run from October Fest who has dropped down the ratings and reverts to her best track and trip.

In the final race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1250m, Lerena rides the useful Secret Passage for Justin Snaith but the 3yo son of Futura has it all to do from the worst of the draw. Fourie ia aboard My Archangel for Lucinda Woodruff and the son of Soqrat will be looking to put a sub-par performance behind him, but they may all have to go some to catch the free-running and course suited Firingonallengines. Another with a big chance is Counter Attack for the Domeyer/Bass-Robinson team who were in good form at the Country course over the past weekend.

Sing Dragon has been tipped to win the last race. (Picture: HKJC). 

Sha Tin (Hong Kong) Wednesday Formguides and Selections

Tim Carroll (At The Races)

Tim provides expert analysis and best bets for Wednesday’s nine-race card under lights at Sha Tin

This Wednesday sees a competitive nine-race card under lights on the dirt track at Sha Tin getting underway at 10.45am.The feature of the meeting is race 7, The Class 3 Flamingo Handicap, over one mile, offering more than £205,000 in prize-money.

Now, onto this week’s selections.

Race 1: Class 5 Swan Handicap (1245pm SA Time) (9 furlongs)
2 MEEPMEEP is yet to shed his maiden status after eleven starts having started off his career with promise when runner-up in a race that has produced several that have gone to win at a higher level than this. But the selection will be dropping into the bottom grade for the very time having ran with merit in defeat when fourth over the mile last time when having his first try on the dirt. The selection was slightly tight for room over the concluding stages that day but still ran through the line with purpose, and on that evidence, he should enjoy stepping up to this trip for the first time.

Dangers:
12 Yeaboi, who won over course & trip two back, was just over 2 lengths behind Yoda’s Touch when picking up the bronze over the mile last time, but he was doing his best work late that day and will enjoy stepping back up in trip.
4 Yoda’s Touch is an 18-start maiden, but he has been runner-up two from three goes on this track including last time out over the mile when he went from the front, but this will be his first time over this trip.
1 Chater Gold is a 14-start maiden having his first spin on the dirt, but he does drop down to this level having placed from higher marks in the past and will find this level more to his liking if taking to the track.

Race 2: Class 5 Spoonbill Handicap (115pm) (6 furlongs)
7 FALCON COURT bombed when well beaten on the turf last time with no excuses and he has just the one win from 18 starts, but that success was over course & trip last month when having just his third spin on this track and in the context of this race, he did run well enough in defeat the other two. Whilst he has a modest overall record, he did go off favourite the day he won, meaning they expected him to run well, and whilst he is now 6lb higher in the handicap, he won by nearly 2 lengths that day and a similar performance we see him go close here.

Dangers:
9 Patch Of Watch broke his duck over course & trip last time under today’s rider and finished two spots in front of the selection when runner-up the start prior, and although he goes up 6lb, he’s likely to go from the front in a race offering no more than an honest gallop.
3 Modest Gentleman has just two wins from 33 starts & both were over 5 furlongs, but he was runner-up the selection over course & trip two back when having just his second start on this track and although held that day, he does meet that rival on 6lb better terms.
6 The Khan, who is one of only two sons of Acclamation racing in Hong Kong at this given time, the other being the champion Romantic Warrior, will be having his first spin on the dirt, but he won over 7 furlongs earlier in the season from a similar mark and arrives after a good effort in defeat when placed over this trip last time.

Race 3: Class 4 Peacock Handicap (145pm) (1 mile)
5 CHILL KAKA is a four-start maiden and the least exposed runner in the contest, but the Ricky Yiu 4yo has been placed two from three on this track including last time out when runner-up over course & trip. He was well held by the winner, who he was conceding 9lbs, that day, but he had a last start winner back in third and he came from last on the bend in a race that was completely dominated by the pace runners. The selection will need some luck as they are likely to ride him cold again, but there’s a solid gallop on offer, and Derby winning rider, Richard Kingscote, is back on board and Richard will be keen to record his first local success to kickstart his Hong Kong stay.

Dangers:
9 Spangle Fortune had a tough trip last time and was found to be lame post-race the start prior, but he did win over course & trip in November with the runner-up that day subsequently winning back-to-back races including at a level above this, and he could bounce back here.
7 Lucky Banner recorded his only career success, which came over course & trip, nearly two years ago and he’s only 1lb below his winning mark, but that’s a testament to his consistency, but he does have a high draw which is not ideal given he usually punches forward.
2 Shanghai Style recorded his second career win when successful over course & trip last time and although he goes up 5lb, a change of claimer means he effectively is now only 2lb higher, but he draws the outside and the first turn comes quickly.

Race 4: Class 5 Spoonbill Handicap (215pm) (6 furlongs)
2 HINOKAMI KAGURA is a 15-start maiden with eleven of those spins coming on this track, and he has gone off at single figures in eight of those, however he does get a good opportunity to repay followers here. The selection, who has been runner-up on three occasions over course & trip, is dropping down into Class 5 company for the very first time, and he will find this more to his liking.  He draws low but he is likely to be ridden from the second half of the field as that is his normal run style, but with the logical leader (Speedy Fortune) drawn high, this should be run at a strong gallop and hopefully Harry Bentley can find the gaps when needed.

Dangers:
10 Cheer For South is yet to record a win in 22 starts, which is hardly inspiring, but he has been runner-up in two of his last three starts, both over course & trip and although he goes up 1lb for his latest run, he should have all the favours from the low draw.
1 Happy Tango is a veteran 9yo that is usually kept to the turf, but he has won on this track, albeit it was some time ago, and he drops into Class 5 company for the first time since September of last year when winning at Happy Valley.
6 Flying Romantic is a modestly performed 10 start maiden, but he ran a career best when runner-up over this trip on the turf when last seen in January and with Teetan sticking solid, a market watch is advised on his return after a minor setback.

Race 5: Class 4 Kestrel Handicap (245pm) (6 furlongs)
4 PATCH OF TIME will be having his first spin on the dirt, so he will need to be taken on trust, but he’s a twice winner over this trip this season and was only beaten a nose in second by a debutant on the turf here last time. I think it’s fair to say he brings the best the most attractive profile to the race, and there’s good reason to think he’ll act on this track as he was successful the last time he trialled on it, albeit that was September of last year. He usually punches forward and the race maps for the selection to either sit in behind or outside of Natural High, with very little kick-back.

Dangers:
3 Natural High shed his local maiden status (two from two in Australia) at his ninth start in good style over course & trip last time when hacking up from the front, & repeat would see him go close, but he does go up 9lb and may have to spend some pennies to get across from the high draw.
8 Looks Outstanding is a twice unplaced maiden that met with support here last time when fifth and 5 lengths behind Natural High, but he meets that rival on 11lb better terms and has scope for improvement.
2 Solid Shalaa hasn’t been seen since April of last year, but he did win over course & trip just before that, and with the claim he effectively runs from the same mark as when he won, he is with a yard that like to have them ready to roll and he does arrive as a recent trial winner, thus a market watch is advised.

Race 6: Class 4 Peacock Handicap 315pm) (1 mile)
5 FOREVER FOLKS is a twice course & trip winner from ten goes on the dirt and arrives having finished runner-up to Charming Steed when last seen in early February. He was 2 lengths behind the winner that day (well clear of the others) and with claims taken into consideration, they effectively meet on the same terms. However, he had a tough run planted wide without cover for a good part of the race that day and was found to be lame post-race. He has a far more favourable draw this time around and should have a softer run in transit.

Dangers:
3 Precision Goal was a tad disappointing last time when a beaten favourite over course & trip, but he had won back-to-back races from the front prior that, and he’s the best drawn of the pace runners.
4 Charming Steed has won the last two times he’s ventured onto the dirt, which has only been twice in the last year, but he is 7lb higher than his winning mark from February over 9 furlongs when he went around at 20.00 on the tote.
8 Escape Route is a veteran that has only the one win below 9 furlongs which was a long time ago, and he’s never won on this track, but he has run on without threatening at his last two starts, both over course & trip, and with a solid gallop on offer, he should do the same here.

Race 7: Class 4 Kestrel Handicap (345pm) (6 furlongs)
12 GIMME FIVE is a 16 start maiden but he remains unexposed on this track having finished runner-up two back over this trip to Daily Trophy, who he meets on 7lb better terms, which has been his only spin on the dirt. He certainly wasn’t a luckless loser that night, but he was only picked off late by the winner having been slightly tight for room at the top of the straight, and he was well clear of the third. The draw in 2 should see him grab a spot behind the leaders with all the favours under Karis Teetan, who I’m predicting is in for a good night.

Dangers:
7 Daily Fortune swooped from second last when winning over course & trip with the selection back in second last time, and a repeat performance would see him go close despite a 7lb penalty.
11 Fun N Glory hasn’t tasted success since July 2023, but he was beaten just a nose on the turf track last time, he goes from the very foot of the handicap with a 10lb claimer, and they are likely to point & shoot from the 1 draw.
3 Rising Force who is a debutant by a sire (Deep Field) that does well in Hong Kong, arrives as a recent trial winner on the all-weather track at Conghua, and a market watch is advised.

Race 8: Class 3 Flamingo Handicap (415pm) (1 mile)
10 FIGHTING MACHINE two wins have come on turf, but he’s run with merit several times on this track and whilst he may not have won on the dirt, he certainly acts on it. The selection has been placed five of his six starts on this track and to be fair, he hasn’t had the rub of the green on a couple of occasions. The Pierre Ng 5yo tends to run his best races when there is a strong gallop on offer, and he’ll certainly that here. Harry Bently, who will be the sixth different rider in his last six starts, takes over, and from the 2 draw he may be able to sit a tad closer, similar to when he was runner-up here from the same stall in December.

Dangers:
14 Lucky Touch will be moving up in grade having been runner-up over course & trip last time & he does dive into deeper waters, but he’s been placed all three starts on this track and with a whopping 20lb less to carry than last time he should be kept on the safe side.
7 Perfect Team, who finished one spot in front of the selection when runner-up under Ryan Moore here last time, has a 7lb claimer taking over, and is now on 5lb better terms with the selection, but he does have a high draw to contend with.
2 Flamingo Trillion, who lined up in a Group 3 earlier in the season, is a complete unknow on the dirt, but he has been competing at a level above this for most of the season and is well drawn for a pace runner.

Race 9: Class 3 Egret Handicap (450pm) (6 furlongs)
1 SING DRAGON has a high draw, but with so much pace in the race, we’ll take a chance that Britney Wong can get him into a spot with some cover. The selection, who has won four of his six starts on this track, will be dropping in grade having run better than the bare result when beaten a length in third in a Class 2 last time. He was forced to race wide without cover that day and would have gone close to winning with a softer commute. With the 10lb claim he is effectively 5lb below his last winning mark in December, which came in a Class 2, and he’ll be awfully hard to hold out here if he can slot in early.

Dangers:
5 Gummy Gummy, who saves his best for the dirt, was a lip second to Self-Improvement last time, but with rider changes, he’s now on 13lb better terms, which is more than enough to turn the form around, and he should have a gun run from the low draw.
8 Must Go, who won over course & trip  was in behind four of these in a race won by Self Improvement last time, but he had a tough trip that day planted wide and  two of his three wins have come from off the pace, which is where he’s likely to end up here with so much of it in the race.
9 Galaxy Witness hasn’t lived up to the promise he showed as a younger horse and it’s been a long time between drinks, but he continues to close out his races and with pace right across the park, he will get the race run to suit.

WEDNESDAY’S PLACEPOT
Today’s Place Pot will be races 4 through to 9. All up we will be playing 81 combinations (3x3x1x3x3x1), which will cost £8.10 for a 10p stake and so on. Good luck.

LEG 1- 1 HAPPY TANGO 2 HINOKAMI KAGURA 10 CHEER FOR SOUTH
LEG 2- 3 NATURAL HIGH 4 PATCH OF TIME 8 LOOKS OUTSTANDING
LEG 3- 5 FOREVER FOLKS
LEG 4- 7 DAILY TROPHY 11 FUN N GLORY 12 GIMME FIVE
LEG 5- 7 PERFECT TEAM 10 FIGHTING MACHINE 14 LUCKY TOUCH
LEG 6- 1 SING DRAGON

TIM’S BEST BETS (scale 1-5 points)
1.15pm SHA TIN
2pts win FOREVER FOLKS

2.15pm SHA TIN
2pts each-way FIGHTING MACHINE

2.50pm SHA TIN
3pts win SING DRAGON

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.

What is the widest winning margin in the history of the 1000 Guineas and who was the rider?

The subject is pictured above. (wikipedia)