‘I came third on Grand National debut – I couldn’t sleep for two weeks before’
Katie Walsh has revealed what it was like making her Grand National debut aboard Seabass in 2012.
Katie came home third in her first attempt over the Aintree fences, achieving what was at the time the best finish for a female jockey in the Grand National. Riding for her dad, Ted, who famously won race in 2000 with Papillon, Walsh and Seabass had every chance as they approached the elbow, before finishing third behind Sunnyhillboy and eventual winner Neptune Collonges.
Nevertheless, it was an incredible experience for Katie, who admitted she struggled to get any real rest leading up to the race such was the excitement at the potential of another family success at Aintree.
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Speaking exclusively to Daily Star Sport, Betway ambassador Katie Walsh relived the experience ahead of 175th running of the most famous race in the world on Saturday afternoon.
"I couldn’t sleep for a couple of weeks beforehand, let alone the night before," Katie told us, recalling what it was like after being given the ride on Seabass.
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"There was so much hype and buzz around Seabass. Dad had won the race with Ruby in the saddle and now he had the chance to win another with me on the back; there can’t be many trainers who get to experience that!
"It’s not that I couldn’t sleep for the pressure, it’s the for the sheer fact that I’d lie there thinking about how I’d ride the race and how I’d get around each scenario. I’d ridden the race hundreds of times before the actual race!"
Although Katie didn't manage to taste success in the Grand National at Aintree, she did land the Irish Grand National aboard Thunder and Roses in 2015. Trained by Sandra Hughes, Thunder and Roses landed the big pot by four-and-a-quarter-lengths at a starting price of 20/1.
"Winning the Irish Grand National on Thunder And Roses was amazing," Katie recalls, adding: "It was totally out of the blue; I was just very happy to get a ride at all.
"I’d never ridden the horse before, but I knew all about him. He’d won a Beginners Chase at Fairyhouse earlier that season, so I knew he’d act around there. It was a real test of stamina, and he loved it out there."
As an ambassador for Betway, Katie is now looking ahead to the big one on Saturday, when her dad Ted will be hoping to capture a second success with Any Second Now.
The former jockey gave an insight into how the riders will be feeling before the tapes finally go up at 5:15pm – and how they might choose to celebrate if they come home first.
"For all the riders who’ll have had runners in yesterday’s Irish Grand National and for those who will be riding in the race at Aintree this weekend, whether they’re on the favourite or a 100/1 shot, they’ll all be buzzing at the start!
"It’s sheer excitement and I’m so glad I got to ride in both and was very lucky to win the Irish Grand National…I think I had a few drinks that evening from memory!"
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