Inside the mind of a jockey on Grand National day – from start to the weigh room

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    Ever wondered what goes through the mind of a jockey on the day of the Grand National?

    Come 5:15pm on Saturday afternoon, 40 of horse racing's finest will line up at Aintree bidding to write their name in the history books of the world's most famous race. But one man who won't be putting himself through that ordeal for the first time in a number of years is Robbie Power.

    Power, who won the race in 2007 aboard Silver Birch, retired from the saddle last year and now works as a race planner for Henry de Bromhead, who saddles two on Merseyside. Also working as an ambassador for Boylesports, Power gave us a unique insight into what it's like before, during and after the Grand National from the perspective of a jockey.

    READ MORE: Grand National 2023 free sweepstake kit – download all 40 runners & riders

    "The hardest part for a jockey is the build-up to the Grand National," he begins. "That's because – and wrongly I think – jockeys are asked to be at the racecourse for 12pm for a briefing, which is something that should be done later on. Jockeys are on course from 12pm. The race doesn’t start until 5pm, that’s a long time to be on course if you don’t have any other rides in the races before."

    These days the Grand National takes place at the slightly later time of 5:15pm, meaning there's a long build-up for jockeys who arrive at the course early. Although there are five races before the big one, not all jockeys will have a ride in each race.

    Who are you backing for the Grand National? Let us know in the comments below

    "I always found it a lot easier when I had rides in the build-up", Power says. "Otherwise it's a long time to be twiddling your thumbs in the weighing room with not a lot to do. That was always the bit that I found the hardest."

    However, when the time comes it's out to the parade ring to go through final chats with the owners and trainer. "That was the bit I liked the most," Power recalls. "When you went out and met the owners and trainer and got your leg up on the horse."

    Then it's race time as 40 runners and riders make their way to post for the most anticipated renewal of the season. All jockeys want the best position before the starter lowers the flag to signal the start of the contest, otherwise the next 15 minutes can be difficult.

    And while punters in the grandstands and at home are preparing for the one race that truly captures the imagination of the wider public, the jockeys have to treat it as they would any other race…sort of.

    "It does feel special when you’re lining up, but you do have to treat it like any other race," Power admits. "At the same time there’s less pressure on jockeys in the Grand National because of the unforeseen things that can happen. Everyone understands – be it an owner, trainer or a punter – everyone understands you need plenty of luck and things to go right on the day.

    "There’s not a sense of the same pressure if you were on a favourite in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. There’s less pressure on the jockey, but at the start I was always aware of what was lining up around me, making sure or hoping there were good jumpers around me and that I wasn't stuck near some dodgy ones."

    Very few jockeys get the chance to sample the feeling of winning the Grand National. AP McCoy, regarded as one of the best jockeys of all time, had to wait until his 15th spin over the Aintree fences to know what it was like.

    Power managed it on just his second attempt, guiding Silver Birch to victory at odds of 33/1. He did so under significant danger, with McKelvey baring down on him as he approached the line.

    "I think I was in a state of shock when I crossed the line," the 41-year-old Cheltenham Gold Cup winner recalls. "I couldn’t believe what had happened. I thought jumping the last we had a big chance of winning it but still to this day I can hear race caller Mike Cattermole saying 'McKelvey is flying down the outside' and I thought 'Oh no, I’m going to get caught.'

    "You know you’re seconds away from winning the greatest steeplechase of all, but it feels like hours. From the elbow to the winning post is the longest furlong in horse racing when you’re in front. It would have been a killer to go that far and get caught close home but thankfully Silver Birch stuck his neck out and he hung on."

    After the race it's back to the weighing room where the jockeys do something that is unique to the Grand National.

    Power continues: "There’s always a lot of banter in the weighing room when we watch the replay of the Grand National afterwards. It’s the one race where everyone sits there and watches the replay straight afterwards.

    "Jockeys some time might not watch a replay of the race until they get home but after the National everyone sits down and watches it. Because there are 40 runners everyone wants to see how their mates have got on or came to grief or whatever.

    "There are two or three TVs in the weighing room so everyone crowds round them and watches the replay straight away."

    While the winning rider is congratulated by their colleagues, there's also concern for those who have fallen or unseated around the historic course. While they may all be rivals out on the track, there's a great comradeship among those who participate in the Grand National, something which will be evident once again on Saturday afternoon.

    Boylesports are going six places on the Grand National, with Delta Work, Noble Years and Corach Rambler at the top of the market.

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