Golf widows tee up a Grand National winner
Pals are off to Aintree with horse One For Arthur
PALS Belinda McClung and Deborah Thomson had a cheeky dig at their partners’ expense when they bought a racehorse and called their partnership Two Golf Widows. But the fellas won’t need any nagging to give their clubs a rest this Saturday.
For they will join the women at Aintree as their gelding One For Arthur – trained in Kinross by Lucinda Russell – bids for Grand National glory.
Belinda, 45, said: “When we bought Arthur, our partners were playing a lot of golf.
“You have to have a partnership name. We decided for a bit of a laugh to call it Two Golf Widows. We didn’t think we’d have a runner in the National.”
Belinda, husband Fraser, 53, and Deborah, 46, and her partner Colin Dempster, 54, will make the trip to Liverpool for the race.
Deborah, of Gullane, East Lothian, said: “I’m so excited about the whole thing, although I’m nervous as well. It is a bit of a dream to get your horse in the Grand National.
“The boys are having a rare weekend off from golfing to come and join us.”
With jockey Derek Fox in the saddle, Arthur is about 14-1 to win.
Belinda, of Ancrum, in the Borders, added: “We are all really, looking forward to it.
“It is very exciting to have a horse good enough to run in the National and we are getting quite nervous now because he is very special to us.
“We think he has a really good chance. But as long as he comes home safe, that’s the main thing.”
Meanwhile, racegoers can expect a rain-free three days at the Grand National meeting. Met Office spokesman Oli Claydon said: “It is generally a good picture. It is looking to be a dry Grand National.”