April 5, 2000. Copyright, 2000, Graphic News. All rights reserved RIDE THE COURSE WITH TWO-TIME GRAND NATIONAL WINNING JOCKEY CARL LLEWELLYN Midge Todhunter interviews Carl Llewellyn, winner of the Grand National on Party Politics in 1992, and Earth Summit in 1998. LONDON, April 5, Graphic News: ÒTHE atmosphere in the Aintree weighing room on Grand National day is totally different from any other. ItÕs the race every owner, trainer and jockey wants to win, and everybodyÕs hyped-up. The officials call all the jockeys together and tell us to be sensible, to spread out at the start and not to go too fast early on in the race. They also show us a special emergency flag which changes every year and we must memorize it. It is the only flag on the day which will stop the race. As we leave the weighing room the route is traditionally lined both sides with well wishers and autograph hunters. In the paddock we quickly get legged-up on our horses and the walk out on to the course takes quite a while. Then the parade starts which signals the build-up. Some people want to get rid of the parade but I think itÕs all part of the unique atmosphere. We take our horses to look at the first fence. ItÕs a formality which reminds them weÕre about to jump fences but it also gives us a chance to loosen them up. Thousands of people gather at the start where thereÕs lots of shouting and itÕs a very tense time. My throat gets very dry and you begin to reflect on the months of planning that have gone into the next 10 minutes. My position in the line-up has varied every time Ð itÕs really what suits your horse best. On Party Politics I was one from the inner, looking for the shortest route. On Earth Summit, we started on the wide-outside as he doesnÕt like other horses crowding him. IÕll have made a mental note of four or five horses which I keep an eye on and avoid getting next to in the line-up and in the early stages of the race. They are the dodgy jumpers, and true to form, they usually either fall or pull-up on the first circuit. ThereÕs always a mad rush to the first fence. The more horses there are ahead of you, the more chance there is of being brought down, so every jockey wants a good position near the front as there are always fallers at the first. The horses get very wound up by the Aintree atmosphere and are going too fast at the first fence, and over-jump. Others get brought down in the melee. Survival here can be pot-luck. The third fence is a very big, open ditch, and the first big test of this unique course. If you jump it well, you think to yourself, Ôwith a normal run of luck we should at least get around the course.Õ Now itÕs a case of staying out of trouble until you get to Bechers. You must start edging towards the middle here. People donÕt realise, but Bechers must be jumped from left to right to get the shortest route round the curve. Jump it straight and youÕll run into the rails head-on. I always jump it in the middle, and try and jump it sensibly. If you race at it and take off too soon you wonÕt get the distance right. Try and pop over rather than race over. On Party Politics I was mid-divison at Bechers on the first circuit and on Earth Summit I was out the back. Both times the race had gone so fast I couldnÕt get near the front. Next is the Foinavon fence, named after the big pile-up in 1967. ItÕs the smallest fence, but again you need to jump it on a bit of an arc. It can be a very confusing fence for horses. Before the Canal Turn we sweep out to the middle of the track. You must pull out to get the angle right but if you overdo it another horse can come up on your inside and carry you wide on the turn. Jockeys can get too hyped up here and thereÕs usually lots of shouting. Miss the turn and youÕre in the Liverpool Canal! Up to this point, luck has played a large part in survival but about now I start to think that if weÕve got this far thereÕs a fair chance weÕll complete. Over ValentineÕs Brook and you can settle down and see how everybody else is going. Start to consider the race. Party Politics made his one and only mistake at ValentineÕs, when I asked him to take-off early. He got into trouble but worked it out brilliantly and I decided to leave the jumping to him from then on! While jumping the two plain fences in the straight you start thinking about The Chair. As the runners approach it thereÕs a roar from the crowd in the distance Ð itÕs like hitting a wall of noise. The Chair is the biggest fence Ð both in height and width Ð but also the narrowest in length, which makes it look even higher. But your horse has got round this far, so you know heÕs capable Ð itÕs just a case of getting a clear run at it. There are usually plenty of fallers at The Chair, although IÕve never had any trouble at it, as yet. But I certainly breathe a mighty sigh of relief when we are safely over it. The water jump is next, right in front of the stands, which looks pretty spectacular but takes little jumping. Now itÕs time to relax a bit as thereÕs a three-furlong run to the next fence which is the first fence, second time around. The second circuit owes less to luck and more to ability. Most of the bad jumpers and Ôwing and a prayerÕ types have gone by now. Now we have space to get a good position and let the race unfold from here on. At this stage I was seventh on Party Politics, about 10 lengths off the front, but I was worried as he was having trouble breathing. On Earth Summit I was still near the rear, but well in contention and going quite happily. He made his only mistake at the third fence second time around, but it didnÕt really affect him. Going to Bechers I pull to the middle again. It was at this point on Party Politics I found IÕd gone from an OK position to a great position, as heÕd got his breathing back in rhythm. On Earth Summit I was second at Bechers and going very nicely. In both races, I could see no-one going better than me. After ValentineÕs it really starts to look like a race. If youÕre not in contention by now you have little hope. Both my winners were going very well at this point. By four from home, you just about know if you will win. On Earth Summit, two of us had gone clear with two fences to jump. The other was Graham Bradley on the grey, Suny Bay, who famously shouted over to me: ÔWeÕre 30 lengths clear Ð one of us is going to win the Grand National!Õ We had been racing on very soft ground. I knew he had top weight and I had a stone and a half (21lbs / 9.5kg) less, and that would tell on the run-in. My first memory of the race as a boy was the year Crisp was caught on the run-in by Red Rum, and that thought began to haunt me. I hit the front just before the last fence, which Earth Summit popped over safely, and there was no danger after that. On Party Politics I was Ôvery happyÕ four fences from home and I knew I had only to keep my head. I kept a good hold of him until we jumped the last fence and never squeezed him until the run-in. He won easily in the end. As you pass the post you begin to realise what has happened Ð youÕve just won the Grand National Ð and you start to wonder if itÕs all a dream. You think youÕre going to wake up shortly and find it was all just fantasy.Ó /ENDS