@Sidney
has grand national saturday traditionally clashed with the FA Cup Semi Finals?
It clearly does, pal - you don’t need to say something for it to be obvious - you didn’t say you’re a thick cunt either but it doesn’t need to be said
Many, many times, mate - it would be easier to list the years when it didn’t.
At this early stage I like the look of Rock The Kasbah, Minella Rocco and Jury Duty
I think all us true racing people would love to see Richard Johnson win
I love you too Sid
2 Likes
lets give it a go
1989
1993
1995
Gordon Elliott has some squad assembled for today - he must have close to half the field. An incredible array of equine talent.
Michael Dickinson saddled the first five horses home in the 1983 Cheltenham Gold Cup, but even with Elliott’s crack squad of jumpers today, this is the Grand National - another level of quality and competition altogether - and there’s no way the Meathman will match that feat.
i was in Boylesports in Navan ( the one on trimgate st.) cc @Portumna_Bridge and put 10 euro each way on Ramses de theill at 22/1
i then went a bought a can of wild bluebell fence paint and am now heading out with a transistor radio to do the honors
1 Like
In the 20th century
1987
1989
1991
1997
I can’t remember FA Cup semi-finals after that
Lovely scene setter there, really captures the atmosphere of the afternoon of the Great Race
it was always synonymous with the real start of spring for me
in 1995 i think Forest beat sheffield wednesday 7-1 at Hillsboro’ i think and we were out digging the back garden with the radio and im pretty sure The Race was on also that day
you see, fellas can spend their lives thinking they are experts at horses but for me days like this have different meanings, memories, representations and indeed connotations.
its not quite T-shirt weather but we have The Race, The FA Cup Semi Finals and a later Easter with European Cup Quarter Finals coming up which herald that great part of the year of watching football with the evening sun setting…
now if fellas dont get that… they are missing out
enjoy the day lads
i will
5 Likes
My first memory of The Race is 1987 when Maori Venture won it. I loved the name of the horse and I loved the fact that 92 year old Mr. Jim Joel had waited all his life to own a winner of The Race and had finally done it. A wonderful story, there always is one on this special day.
In 1988 The Race clashed with the Liverpool-Nottingham Forest FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough. I’m not quite sure how RTE managed it but I’m pretty sure they were able to screen both live - I think Brendan O’Reilly may have informed viewers that the football coverage would be interrupted for 10-12 minutes or so to bring us events from Aintree, which started at the then traditional time of 3:20. That was a fantastic finish as Rhyme ‘N’ Reason fought off that gallant old warhorse Durham Edition, who was the Jimmy White of The Race. Maybe he could yet come back in 2020 to win it.
In '95 winning jockey Jason Titley was interviewed by his fellow Ennis native Des Lynam. That was a proud moment for Clare and the county’s stand out sporting moment of that year.
Then in '96 Mick Fitzgerald famously declared that winning the The Race was “better than sex”. He split up with the wife shortly afterwards.
'97 showed you couldn’t spell “Grand National” without RA. The way the people of Liverpool RAllied around the horses and jockeys was incredible. Only in Liverpool would you have got this.
Into the 21st century and 2004 and Ginger McCain’s fairytale return with Amberleigh House sticks in the memory.
More recently there was Mouse Morris’s incredible tribute win for his late son. One of the great touching moments in the history of The Race.
I’m now about to make my annual ceremonial trip to the bookies (Boylesports@Westside - beside the GP practice where there are regular anti-abortion protests on Saturday afternoons) and I can’t wait.
2 Likes
The audit trail doesn’t lie. If I was a betting man, you’re the only horse racing expert I would listen to here when it comes to the blue riband event of horse racing.
This is the first time I’ve seen two men have sex on the internet.
My ceremonial annual trip to the bookies for 2019 is over.
Here’s hoping I’ll be returning later to collect some winnings.
6 Likes
The People’s Race.
Great day to get the kids interested in some
Low level gambling.
A stirring rendition of the National Anthem.
1 Like
A fella could have a concrete slab dropped on them for lesser poor puns than that.