Liam Treadwell the 100-1 Grand National hero remembered at Worcester Racecourse

Grand National hero Liam Treadwell was fondly remembered at a special fixture run in his memory.

Worcester's seven races on Wednesday, which marked one year since the jockey's death, were named after him.

Mon Mome, the 100-1 shot he rode to victory in the Aintree showpiece in 2009, paraded at the track.

An inquest heard in February how Treadwell, 34, was found dead at his home on June 23, 2020 after taking "a cocktail of drugs."

The leading rider, who had more than 300 winners, battled with depression in the aftermath of a major injury which left him unconscious for two to three minutes in 2016.

The Worcester card aimed to raise awareness of the effects of concussion in racing and other sports more generally, as well as funds for the Injured Jockeys' Fund and Headway.

Colleagues and racegoers remembered Treadwell's many successes in racing, including his 2013 Cheltenham Festival win on Carrickboy.

Sam Twiston-Davies, who rode Captain Tom Cat (2-7f) to win the In Memory Of Liam Treadwell Novices' Chase, said his late friend was an excellent horseman – and not just for his National heroics.

"There's a horse of Dai's (Walters, owner) a few of us have had a go on since called Billingsley and he unshipped me, he fell with Sean Bowen and Treaders was unbeaten on him and made him look the most beautiful ride," Twiston-Davies told Sky Sports Racing.

"As it turns out he's actually quite tricky, he has got a very light mouth, he's not the easiest kind to get jumping and Treaders used to get the most amazing tune out of him.."

Twiston-Davies finished second aboard Bbold in the Best Horses #carrickboy #monmome #tullamoredew #billingsley Handicap Chase, won by 15-2 shot Fidux.

The Arundel Boy's Favourites: Flynn, Arsenal, Esco Handicap Hurdle went to Nico de Boinville's mount Global Society (7-1).

Your Band, last in winning form for Treadwell in September 2019 and trained by his former employer Alastair Ralph, finished third.

One of the rider's supporters, Nick Gifford, saw Legendary Grace (9-1) record a poignant victory in the Summer's Coming, Ibiza's Calling #captaintreaders Mares' Maiden Hurdle.

"He rode my first winner at Cheltenham at the October meeting and I think he had a bigger grin on his face than I did," Gifford said.

"I was beside myself having a winner there walking in and I think he knew it meant as much to me as it did to him."

In Treadwell's memory, another of his friends Jeremy Mahot is tackling the Transalp, a seven-day mountain bike race that takes place through the Alps next month.

Bundle Pickard, who organised the Worcester event, said: "Jeremy’s Transalp race is a huge endeavour, which we all really want to get behind and promote as far and wide as we can, as well as all of our fundraising and our auction.

"We all have such fantastic memories of Liam both as a jockey and as a friend, which we tried to make sure we reflect that in the race titles over the afternoon."

Source: Read Full Article