RACING: IT IS 35 years since Charlotte Brew became the first female jockey to ride in the Aintree Grand National and bookmakers reckon it is just 10 to 1 about a woman finally winning the world's most famous steeplechase this Saturday.
Ireland’s best-known female riders, sisters-in-law Nina Carberry and Katie Walsh, have fancied mounts at Liverpool. Carberry will attempt to score a notable double on board last year’s Irish National hero Organisedconfusion and Walsh rides Seabass.
Victory for either would reboot Ireland’s dominance at Aintree as it is five years since Silver Birch became the sixth Irish winner in nine years over the famous fences.
However, success for a woman would be a massive landmark racing moment although Carberry yesterday emphasised the scale of the task for her and every jockey lining up in the National.
“It’s who takes to it the best. And you need luck on your side as well,” she said. “Hopefully he takes to the jumps, is there at the end and is good enough. But touch wood everything will go right, he stays sound and he’ll be there in the line-up. It’s hard to know . The best jumpers sometimes don’t. He jumps well at home and he’s jumped over a few of those fences, but you just don’t know until you line up with the others.”
Carberry boasts three completions in her three National rides to date, with Character Building’s seventh in 2010 the best of them. Seabass, however, will be a first National spin for Walsh who stepped in for the ride when her brother Ruby chose On His Own.
“There is always a story at Aintree and wouldn’t it be great if a girl winning is the story this time,” Paddy Power said yesterday. “At current odds it is 10 to 1 about it happening. And both horses have their chance.”
Ireland’s three big hopes on Saturday, according to the bookmakers – On His Own, Seabass and Chicago Grey – come from trainers who’ve won the National before and Barry Geraghty is hoping experience in the saddle will also count for a lot.
Geraghty rode the 2003 winner Monty’s Pass and is sweet on the chances of his mount this weekend, the Nicky Henderson trained Shakalakaboomboom, despite the ground at Liverpool being yesterday described as soft.
“He’s handled slower ground before,” said Geraghty. “He jumps well, he jumped well in the Topham last year – he just needed further really. He’s been progressing throughout the season and I think he’s got a big shout.”
No horse has won back-to-back Nationals since the legendary Red Rum in 1973-74 but last year’s winner Ballabriggs is in top shape to try and emulate him.
“We’ve won a Grand National so the pressure’s off . . . He’s been working as well, if not better, than I’ve ever seen him work before,” said trainer Donald McCain, whose father Ginger handled the career of Red Rum.
