Richard Dunwoody - Winning Tips From a CHAMPION

By Richard Dunwoody

THE GRAND NATIONAL is still the greatest test of a horse and jockey, with two full circuits of a unique two and a quarter-mile course and 30 fences to be jumped.

Well, I walked the course at Aintree recently and it seemed to me that most of the fences were just as daunting as ever. Check out this link and you can watch the video!

Getting there in front after the last is an unbelievable feeling. With West Tip it was sheer jubilation, with Miinnehoma it was a touch of relief, because I felt I’d gone too soon and almost given the race away – I’d got the shock of my life when Just So came up to my girth at the elbow, but fortunately we had enough in reserve.

There’s no better feeling in jump racing than winning a National!

As for this year's winner, it's the 2009 Irish Grand National winner NICHE MARKET for me.  He looked desperately unlucky to get caught on the line by Tricky Trickster in the Aon Chase and then had a respectable prep run at Cheltenham.  He is tough and looks an exciting ride for Harry Skelton.

IRISH RAPTOR has had this as his target since winning the Topham Chase over the Aintree fences last April.  He loves the course, which is a huge plus, and appears to handle any going.  Nigel Twiston-Davies’s string remains in great heart and a third National win could be on the cards for the trainer.

BIG FELLA THANKS rates a live danger after finishing a fine sixth in last year's renewal.  Paul Nicholl's then seven-year-old was only having his seventh run over fences and looked short of the finished product.  His jumping still leaves some cause for concern but he was slick at Newbury last time and would be a popular winner.

Could MON MOME make it back-to-back wins?  He carries an extra 7lb this year but was in fine order when staying on strongly to take third in the Gold Cup.  He knows his way over these daunting fences and it would be no surprise to see him in the mix again.

Richard's selections:

16:15 Aintree 1 point e/w 1/4 1,2,3,4,5 Niche Market at SP

16:15 Aintree 0.25 point e/w 1/4 1,2,3,4,5 Irish Raptor at SP

16:15 Aintree 0.25 point e/w 1/4 1,2,3,4 Big Fella Thanks at SP

16:15 Aintree 0.25 point e/w 1/4 1,2,3,4,5 Mon Mome at SP


About Richard Dunwoody

One of the greatest jockey’s in British racing history, Richard Dunwoody broke the previous record for the greatest number of career wins for a jump jockey of 1678 when Yorkshire Edition won at Wincanton. Richard went on to ride a career total of 1699 winners. That mark was finally beaten by Tony McCoy in August 2002. As an amateur jockey, he rode his first winner on Game Trust at Cheltenham in May 1983, and the following spring rode a four-timer at Hereford as a 7lb claimer. He was champion jockey for three seasons and is one of only four post war jockeys to have captured the illusive triple crown of the Gold Cup (Charter Party 1986), the Champion Hurdle (Kribensis 1990) and the Grand National (West Tip 1986 and Minnehoma 1994). Richard also rode more than 100 winners in ten consecutive seasons.  His best season saw him ride 197 winners in 1993/94. Yet, to most, he is most well known for his partnership with the iconic Desert Orchid. The pair won seven races, including the King George V1 Chase in 1989 and 1990.

Richard has undertaken various expeditions since hanging up his boots, including a 350-mile cross-country ski race to the Magnetic North Pole and in January this year completed an amazing 673 mile trek to the South Pole, something he considers his greatest ever achievement.

He joined the BBC racing team at Aintree this year, writes a column for the Daily Mirror pull-out section on Saturdays and is a consultant to the British Racing School at Newmarket, where he coaches young and up-and-coming jockeys.

Richard Dunwoody also runs his own highly successful racing service. Recent winners include Wayward Prince 4/5, Ginger Grey 9/4, Grey Command 11/10, Dvinsky 11/8, Clear Sailing 11/10, 'Shadows Lengthen 11/4, Gargano 11/8, Milans Man 11/10, Qozak 2/1, Oiseau De Nuit 2/1, Clear Sailing Evs, Wunder Strike 2/1, Ere Alfie 100/30, Doctor Pat 9/4 & What A Friend 11/2.