Posts Tagged ‘Aintree Foxhunters
Anthony Ward Thomas rides again at the Aintree Foxhunters Grand National
Winning the Grand National may be the pinnacle of a professional jockey’s career but as a race for fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of ordinary, everyday horsemen and huntsmen, it is the Aintree Foxhunters that satisfies more dreams.
Raced over the Grand National course of two and a half miles, Anthony Ward Thomas will be tackling those famous fences including The Chair, Canal turn & Bechers Brook in front of crowds that are likely to exceed 40,000.
“It has always been an ambition of mine to compete in this event and last year was a real thrill. My objective was just to get around the course in 1 piece and having negotiated the big fences I was quite optimistic that I would achieve this. But I got impeded towards the end of the race and fell on fence 18. I did better than my trainer Chris Gordon expected. In an interview with the BBC’s Clare Bolding he stated that he thought I would come back in a body bag”
Anthony adds, “Having been around the course once I have a much better idea on what to expect but this may not make it any easier. It is something that I am really looking forward to…I think”
The Aintree Foxhunters is the signature race on Thursday 7th April 2011. It starts at 1545. Look out for Anthony in his racing colours of red & white, riding on Launde that has been trained by Chris & Jenny Gordon.