Scot grips reins of world's top race

Published on Friday 4 April 2008 22:57

AS I'LL doubtless prove elsewhere on these pages, trying to pick the winner of the Grand National is hard enough but it's a walk in the park compared to organising the whole shebang.

Fortunately, one of the men charged with that task is Scotsman Andrew Tulloch, so the world's most famous race could hardly be in safer hands.

Dumfriesshire born, Tulloch's initial grounding in the equestrian world was gained competing and officiating in three-day eventing, the latter role taking him to the Atlanta Olympics.

Since 1995, however, he's been a key member of the Aintree backroom staff, first as operations manager and for the past six years, clerk of the course.

He took on that role at arguably one of the lowest points in the Liverpool track's recent history, shortly after winner Red Marauder, and just three others, managed to complete a near waterlogged course in 2001.

The sight of tired horses slugging it out almost punch-drunk from their efforts was the stuff of nightmares and increased calls for the race to be quietly euthanised. That the National not only recovered from that sorry episode but has since gone from strength to strength, is down in no small part to the efforts of Tulloch. Not that he would ever claim the credit.

"It has been very much a team effort. We all pull together here and the fact the race is growing in stature is something we're very proud of," he said. "Under the sponsorship of John Smith's, it has been given back to the people in some respects."

Today's big race has gradually been emerging from the shadow of the Cheltenham Gold Cup which has long been perceived as jump racing's Holy Grail although Tulloch believes there's plenty of room on the calendar for both.

"We think we offer a totally different contest from the Gold Cup. The thing about the National is that it's a unique race run over unique fences.

"It's also a much longer event so it stands alone and opens up a whole new spectrum of horses. What really pleases everyone is the calibre of the entries continues to improve and the fact horses of the quality of Joes's Edge and Longshanks didn't even make the final line-up this year shows how the race has grown and tells its own story.

"The National has developed its own stature. With the weights being announced so early, there's also the added element of trainers taking on the handicapper which always adds a bit of spice."

Having practiced for 364 days to ensure this afternoon goes like clockwork, Tulloch and his team know from experience that it doesn't take much to throw a spanner in the works.

"Given the television coverage, we're aware the eyes of the world are on us so to speak so we go through a lot of rehearsals. What we've found over the years, however, is that you can practice for the known, but it always seems to be the unknown we get at Aintree and we've had plenty of those."

National starter Sean McDonald was quoted earlier this week as saying "he didn't do nerves" although the butterflies will be doing a few somersaults in the Tulloch stomach as race time approaches.

"There's always a bit of adrenaline and we just want to get things right," he added. "Our aim is to present the track in the best possible condition, produce the best ground we can for the race and the safest ground for the horses.

"Their safety, and that of the riders, is paramount."

Not content with resting on their laurels, Aintree is already looking to make the National, and the track itself, an even more irresistible magnet in the future. "We're always looking to develop the race and the prize money this year is 800,000 which makes it by far the richest jumps race staged.

"There have been discussions on taking it up to 1million which is still on the cards and is obviously something we'd love to do.

"We've also just completed a 35m redevelopment programme which includes two new grandstands, new parade ring, new weighing room and a new equestrian centre. For the National meeting, that doubles as a beer-hall, but under normal circumstances, we plan to use it as a place to bring local children in and give them some idea of what Aintree, and horseracing in general, is all about."

National day involves a 5am start for Tulloch and with a bit of luck, he'll get to clock-off three hours after the last race. About half past eight this evening.

"Once everything is tidied up and all that should have been put to bed has been, I can go home, have a quiet drink and try to catch up on some sleep."

As for helping us find the new National hero, Tulloch has rather been hoisted with his own petard because he and his colleagues have made the marathon such an open event, even he's not sure how things will turn out.

"It will be an intriguing contest and I'd love to see Hedgehunter win because he's a proper National horse although I don't think he will," he continued.

"Mr Pointment popped round in the Becher and made the fences look easy but Cloudy Lane has a good weight and he'd be my choice.

"Given his connections, it would be a great result for the race if he did win."

McCoy's dirty dozen

TONY McCoy hasn't had to wait quite as long as fellow Arsenal fan Frankie Dettori to win his sport's biggest prize, but he's getting there, writes Jim Kean.

Authorized's success at Epsom in June finally gave Dettori his first Derby success at the 15th time of asking, and this afternoon, McCoy will have his 13th stab at landing the Grand National.

While that number is one normally associated with bad luck, AP is unlikely to be too perturbed as his previous 12 attempts haven't exactly brought a lot of good fortune. The Aintree marathon remains the one glaring omission from the champion's CV and McCoy's burning desire to add his name to the National roll of honour has been well documented.

Today he rides Butler's Cabin, last year's Irish Grand National and Cheltenham Festival winner, and yesterday he said: "It wasn't a tough choice to ride him, but I've picked the wrong one a few times before.

"He's won an Irish National and the four-miler at Cheltenham so you'd have to think that there's not much of a question mark from a staying point of view.

"I just thought this one has more potential of winning a Grand National than JP's other entries."

But can Butler's Cabin fare any better than this lot?

1995 Chatam (Fell 12th)

1996 Deep Bramble (Pulled up two fences out)

1997 Injured and didn't ride

1998 Challenger Du Luc (Fell 1st)

1999 Eudipe (Fell 22nd)

2000 Dark Stranger (Unseated 3rd)

2001 Blowing Wind (3rd)

2002 Blowing Wind (3rd)

2003 Iris Bleu (Pulled up before 16th)

2004 Jurancon II (Fell 4th)

2005 Clan Royal (Carried out 22nd)

2006 Clan Royal (3rd)

2007 L'Ami (10th)