April 2025 Blog

Around Jackdaws Castle, the primroses and daffodils have withered, making way for swathes of bluebells and dandelions. Hawthorn blossom flutters to the ground. Tiny daisies dot lawns, forget-me-nots sprout in clusters and cow parsley is still green, its white lace not quite unfurled. A light perfume wafts in the warm air, hinting of headier, heavier scents of summer still to come. This year’s spring has been unprecedently sunny with unending bright blue skies, as if August had arrived early.

April slid to a close but not before we had a hectic final month the season.

An Aintree Winner

Wellington Arch (Welly) won a handicap hurdle at the big Aintree meeting, which was our first winner there since Eastlake won the 2016 Topham Chase. It was amazing to watch this young and talented horse lead all the way and win by a neck under Jonjo Junior. Welly is looked after by Verity Peers, and gave her a grand moment to finish what was already her personal best season.

Minnie and I

                The highlight of being a groom is to lead up in those big races that punctuate the season with fanfare and glory.

So, I was delighted and excited that Monbeg Genius (Minnie) got into the Grand National. We left at 06:00 that morning – Minnie and the two runners for the first race and my colleagues Ionut ‘John’ Dina and Liah Corcoran – in order to beat the traffic and give the horses a hassle-free day.

It's largely like any other day’s racing – the shampooing, the plaiting and grooming, eating in the canteen and general catching-up with friends but the atmosphere buzzed like a swarm of bees. Every horse was trotted up in front of the vets to get passed to be able to run. The grooms all get sponsored coats to wear – most prolific are the Randox green ones. The jackets in the National itself are monogrammed with each runner’s name and they have named paddock sheets too.

After saddling, I led Minnie down into the paddock, which was incredibly busy with glamorously dressed people, TV cameras and all the runners. Minnie is very well mannered and just walked by me, not pushing or getting wound up, even when the jockeys caused a traffic jam and they sang the national anthem.

Minnie was out the back and pulled up but just to be there, for that race and with that horse made it a great day. It’s not about leading up the winner – an impossible thought amid Willie Mullins’ domination – but about being there in the moment.

As Minnie didn’t have a hard race at Aintree, I got to lead him up on the final day of the season in the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown, which will always be known as the Whitbread to many. It was another sunny day, with the Sandown crowds dressed in their finery. He jumped amazingly and led for much of the way – making me proud all over again. Hopefully, he’ll be roughed off and put out on his holidays, like the rest of us!

Happy Retirement Nick

After the Grand National, jockey Nick Scholfield announced that the ride on Minnie was his last and he hung up his boots to embark on a training career. Nick had ridden for the boss for ages, particularly on our owner and sponsor Martin Tedham’s horses. Most notably, he rode our last Cheltenham Festival winner, Sky Pirate, in 2021. I’d led him up on Arrivederci when he won a junior bumper at Hereford and then on Minnie back in February – Nick was always kind, smiley and diligent. I wish him lots of luck in becoming a trainer.

The 2024-25 Season in Numbers:

21 out of the yard’s 72 winners were trained from the pens – the best ever season, which made trudging through mud, sheltering from torrential rain and not being able to catch the reprobates all worth it.

The yard finished 7th in the Trainer’s Championship.

Richie McLernon had his best season numerically, tallying up 54 winners. He’s a hero and every single winner was well deserved.

One National winner. It might not have been at Aintree but Collectors Item won the Somerset version at Wincanton.

What I’ve been grateful for this season:

The horses, especially the winners and, for me personally, Monbeg Genius. Having a favourite is heartwarming.

My colleagues and the riders who came down the pens and worked hard. This is a team effort and none of us could manage alone.

The head lads, Johnny Kavanaugh, Alan Berry and Georgia Plumb, who always help and advise me. You never stop learning in this job.

The jockeys, especially when they weigh out early or saddle for us. And when they ride us winners.

My family – work is work but there’s also home. And home is where the heart is.