I’m a legendary jockey who won the Grand National – I’ve been told this horse is a ‘certainty’ for this year’s race
A LEGENDARY jockey who swung from the rafters at Aintree after winning the Grand National has revealed he has been told which horse is a ‘certainty’ to win this year’s race.
Paul Carberry certainly knew how to party and his victory in the world’s most famouse race in 1999 sparked the mother of all parties.
The retired rider was successful on 10-1 Bobbyjo – ending Ireland’s 24-year hoodoo in the National.
It’s hard to believe the country that totally dominates jumps racing had to go so long between victories.
Irish handlers have won five of the past six renewals of the £1million race, with Lucinda Russell’s Corach Rambler the only one to break the sequence in 2023.
But Carberry, who was regarded as ‘one of the best horsemen of his generation’, broke the mould in style 26 years ago.
And he says he has been told another Irish runner is going to take the trophy back home this year.
Carberry, who during his colourful career was sentenced to two months in prison for setting fire to a newspaper on a plane before having the sentence quashed, has received good word about Intense Raffles.
The Tom Gibney-trained runner won last season’s Irish Grand National.
He had stuck to hurdles this season before making a belated chasing bow in the Grade 3 Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse last month.
Intense Raffles had to give 3lb to the Willie Mullins-trained winner Nick Rockett.
But the former will carry 12lbs less if they meet again on Saturday, April 5.
And it is that weight advantage and form in the book that leads connections of Intense Raffles to be confident.
Gibney told Grand National odds: “Intense Raffles is very good and he is a worthy favourite.
“I was 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.”
Intense Raffles is as short as 5-1 with some bookies to win the National.
While the best hope of a British winner looks to come from the Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero-trained and JP McManus-owned Iroko.
He is 6-1 and marginally ahead of McManus’ 7-1 defending champion I Am Maximus.
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