A two-time Grand National winning jockey has explained why it would be good for horse racing if he were to be in the running for Sports Personality of the Year.
Derek Fox, bidding to win a third Grand National on board favourite Corach Rambler this Saturday, has revealed how his two Grand National wins have defined his career.
Plus the star jockey gave us his insight into how he prepares for the iconic race, how he celebrated previous National wins and more.
I’d Like to Think Sports Personality of the Year Is in My Sights if I Win a Third Grand National
It would be great for racing if I was up for Sports Personality of the Year. Corach Rambler gets a good following, even when he came third in the Gold Cup he got great applause coming back into the parade ring.
A lot of people know the name and the horse. He is becoming one of those horses who is becoming a wee bit iconic. It would be a dream come true if I could win it again and the longer these horses are around, and the more they come back and win big races, the more people identify with them.
*Corach Rambler is the 5/1 favourite to win the 2024 Aintree Grand National according to the latest horse racing odds at BoyleSports.
I Always Try to Get to Aintree Early on Grand National Day - But I Dread the Start of the Race
I normally stay down in Liverpool the night before and just try and get as much sleep as I can, which is easier said than done.
I get up around 7am but don’t have an awful lot to do. I get to the course early and always walk the track beforehand, then settle into the day and before you know it you’re off.
After that, you just have to go over the form. Get your gear, body protector and colours on and just keep doing your normal weighing room regime, trying to keep it as normal as possible without overthinking the race.
Before you know it, you are down at the start. Once the tape goes up and you’re in the flow of the race, that is the most enjoyable part for me.
I dread the start because there are a lot of horses in a small area and I would be wanting a good position. There’s often a false start or two so you’re hoping to get away well. That is what goes through my mind, rather than going through other scenarios about what might happen.
I don’t have any superstitions before the race, you just have got to get on with it.
I Am More Recognised in the Street Now After My Grand National Wins - It Has Defined My Career
Definitely I’m recognised more, especially around the street where I live. When you go to the shops, people know my name now where they might not have done before. It’s all for the good of the sport.
For me, I have never ridden a massive magnitude of winners or been in the race for champion jockey title. Apart from being champion jockey, winning the National does set you apart.
Maybe winning a Gold Cup might do the same. I know I wouldn’t be as well known had I not won the Grand National twice - it has defined my career.
*Bet on the big race this Saturday with our Grand National odds at BoyleSports.
The World Doesn’t Stop After Winning the National - Last Year I Didn’t Celebrate as I Had a Ride in the Next Race
Last year after the National I rode in the next race - you have to keep going. The world doesn’t just stop. You try and enjoy it but have to remain focused too.
That Said, I Didn’t Waste Much Time That Evening to Have a Drink After Winning With One for Arthur
I stayed down with the owners after One For Arthur won that night and had drinks in the hotel after the race which continued into the next day! I definitely didn’t waste too much time before having a drink!
There was an open day parade for the horse back in the yard for the locals in Kinross which I was late for - I celebrated pretty much all night!
Last year, I jumped straight up the road after racing and didn’t do an awful lot for a week or so. I gave it a week, I was a bit more steady.
Massive Relief To Not Be Banned For Grand National
I was very worried about a ban. I was charged with one strike too many and possible excessive force. I found out last Tuesday that I was only going to get four days for one strike over and I am not getting any more days for excessive force - I was within the rules in the way I pushed him out. That is a massive relief.
I couldn’t have stood on the sidelines and watched someone else ride Corach Rambler to win the Grand National, that would have hurt. But, we are not there yet!
I am pretty happy, with the whip rules, it’s going pretty well. I have had a good run until last week when I twice got into trouble, so that was unfortunate.
I have always tried to do my very best to keep within the rules. I wouldn’t purposely break the rules or go over. Sometimes I do miscount as I have done in the past few days by one strike but in tight finishes, it is more difficult.
I Have Experience of Aintree and I Have a Rough Idea of How This Year’s Race Might Go
Well, I have a bit of experience there and that can only be a good thing at Liverpool. The only experience I have had there is positive. I have a rough idea how the race might go and how I might approach it!
I have ridden the National four times, won it twice, finished sixth and pulled up once.
I Don’t Agree With Dr Richard Newland at All on Banning Irish Runners From British Races – It’s Ridiculous
I read that and I don’t agree with that at all, it just wouldn’t work, we all want to see the best taking on the best. To suggest that you eliminate horses for no other reason than they are Irish is ridiculous.
The Prize Money in Racing Isn’t Great – Horse Racing Is Not the Best Way of Making Money, You Have to Have a Passion for the Sport.
The prize money isn’t great in racing generally. It’s good in the National, but I think horse racing is not the sport for you if you want to get rich.
You have to have a love or passion for it, you have to have that love for it. It has to be something that burns inside you, it is not a money driven get rich quick scheme.
It would be nice if we were paid the same as a footballer, but I can’t see that happening in the near future or in my generation.
It is a rough sport and can be a dangerous sport. If you didn’t have it in you to go round over the jumps, you couldn’t be paid to do it no matter what you’d get, you have to want it.
It would be nicer to get paid more but once you get past a certain income and you can afford your house and the car and can pay the bills, that’s good.
*Prices are subject to fluctuation.
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