Grand National 2018 – Unibet ambassador Nico de Boinville guides you through the famous Grand National course at Aintree racecourse
The Grand National is run over about four miles and two furlongs at Aintree, features 30 fences and is considered to be the ultimate, unique test of stamina and jumping.
"Read the thoughts of four-time Champion Trainer Nicky Henderson and stable jockey Nico de Boinville exclusively at Unibet each week throughout the Jump Season. Unibet are an award-winning sports betting and casino operator with over 16 million customers, and proud sponsors of the Unibet Champion Hurdle, The Irish Gold Cup and betting partner of the Investec Derby."
I’VE done my research, I’ve watched the replays and I’ve walked the course.
Unfortunately, though, I’ve never been further than the first fence in the Grand National.
In two rides in the great race I’ve hit the turf out the back of the first but I know all about the theory of riding over the Aintree fences.
Last year I took a crashing fall from Cocktails At Dawn.
The writing was on the wall a little bit as he wasn’t exactly the ideal National type, having fallen about four times in the Topham the year before.
I did get a good cheer from the crowd along the track when I got up. We were going very quickly.
I was just happy to be alive so I dashed back to the weighing room to give the valets a big hug and I watched the rest of the race from there.
O O Seven did give me a great spin around the course when fourth in the Topham Chase so I have jumped all of the fences at least once.
Sadly, I won’t be jumping any in the National. My intended ride Gold Present was ruled out on Thursday.
I’ll still be walking the course. I usually like to do it on my own, it’s a nice time to be alone to gather my thoughts.
Today I’ve agreed to do a tour around the course for the Racehorse Owners’ Association.
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The National is obviously late in the day and we’ve got some nice chances in the other races so there’ll be plenty to occupy me.
The atmosphere in the jockeys’ room before the National is quite tense. It’s definitely a bit quieter than usual — there’s more nervous anticipation.
The valets are usually nursing fairly strong hangovers so there’s a good bit of banter with them.
We have a meeting when everyone riding in the Grand National goes into the stewards’ room and we get told the world is watching, not to do anything daft, to think of the horses first and to look after ourselves.
Horse welfare is rightly high on the agenda and we have to make sure we have that at the forefront of our minds.
It’s a reminder to be sensible and ride with your brain.
Once we’ve weighed out and walk into the paddock to meet the connections it all becomes very real.
The atmosphere can get to the horses — it’s like a pressure-cooker.
Last year one horse got a bit stuck in the tunnel going out on to the track and half of us were waiting around in the paddock for ages.
If the sun’s out and it’s a bit hot they can boil over. That happened to The Last Samuri last year.
Once you’re out on the course you just want to get on with it. Last year was the first in a long time where there wasn’t a false start. The more you’re made to hang around the worse it is for everyone.
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Us jockeys might have a reputation for being a bit thick sometimes but we honestly do want things to go as easily as possible.
You want a good sight at the first fence and — hopefully — to get over it.
All you want is a bit of room and a bit of light and to get into a bit of a rhythm.
They do tend to go quick down towards the first fence just because everyone is jousting for position.
There’s a heck of a long way to go and you’ve got time to make up ground so really we shouldn’t be in a rush but everyone is as they want to get going and find that happy position.
The first line of six fences has Becher’s Brook at the end of it. It’s almost as famous as the National itself but I don’t think it rides too big these days.
I would tend not to take the inside route at Becher’s, maybe three or four off it in an ideal world.
There are so many routes to take but the main thing is to get into a rhythm and hunt round.
The smallest fence on the course bar the water jump comes next, ironically, where there was all the trouble the year Foinavon won.
Then it’s on to the Canal Turn. A sharp left is needed after the fence so you want to take the quickest route possible.
There have been plenty of times when horses have kept going straight or saddles have slipped.
You come out a bit wide and jump it on the angle but it’s just like jumping hedges.
Valentine’s comes up next and it’s a pretty big fence. That’s the first in a row of four fences before you cross the Melling Road and head for home.
The packed stands are in the distance and you know The Chair is waiting.
You don’t want to be standing off too far there — just off the board really — as it’s a big, wide fence.
The water jump is pretty straightforward and then it’s on to the second circuit. That’s when you can begin thinking about riding a race. You can seriously start thinking like that when you’ve jumped Becher’s for the second time.
Crossing the Melling Road for the final time with two to jump you don’t want to be getting there too soon, you’d still like something to point at.
The horses are starting to get a bit tired but they tend to jump the last two fences alright as they know what they’re doing at that stage.
From the last to the line is a long old way. You want to conserve as much as you can for that last bit.
I always prefer to pick my whip up as late as I can anyway.
If you’re lucky enough to be in contention at that point you’re just looking for a clean route to the line, as direct as possible.
Then, if you’re lucky enough, it’s straight to the winners’ enclosure for the moment every jockey dreams of.
