The eyes of the racing world will be firmly fixed on Aintree this weekend. The Grand National really is a spectacle that grips the entire nation. My family always do a sweepstake and the excitement is still there, which is great as they are not huge racing fans. We don’t really have an equivalent race on the flat in the UK, I suppose the closest comparison we have is the Melbourne Cup in Australia – that is the ‘race that stops the nation’ and generates a similar level of excitement.
We are often labelled as brave for the speed we go on the flat, but those jump jockeys that hurtle round the Grand National fences are really something to watch. As with everyone watching, I just hope that everyone has a safe spin around tomorrow and that everyone comes back in one piece.
I got pretty lucky – I ride out at Andrew Balding’s yard and they are doing a sweepstake for tomorrow’s race. I drew Cloth Cap who is the favourite!
Saturday – Wolverhampton – 6:15pm – Gleneaglet
GLENEAGLET wasn’t beaten very far on her debut at the start of March. She has sharpened up since that run and therefore Charlie is dropping her back in trip which will definitely suit her. I think she’ll improve a fair bit from that run and I think she might run better than her odds may suggest. The favourite Wakening will be hard to beat, she is owned by Her Majesty the Queen. I was very sorry to hear of the passing of her husband the Duke of Edinburgh on Friday.
Stay safe,
Hayley!