Erin recalls champ
different mix. We’ve got a 21 yearold student among us. That brings the average age of the syndicate down a bit!
“At Cheltenham we were in the parade ring with our arms around each other, watching it on the big screen.
“We’ve already said that when the time comes that Corach retires, we’ll stick together and get another horse to continue the adventure.
“I’ve already invested in a younger horse in the yard who is just starting his career.
“With Lucinda and Peter [Scudamore] we get the personal attention that you just wouldn’t get elsewhere with national hunt trainers.
“You’re made to feel a part of it. It’s such a happy place to come to.”
The same yard trained One for Arthur to Grand National triumph back in 2017.
A familiar face at Lucinda Russell’s Kinross-shire yard is Erin Walker.
Erin was the work rider for One for Arthur when he won the 2017 Grand National. Her main role was to exercise him daily in the lead-up to the race.
While she does not have that same exact role this time with Corach Rambler, her excitement for the race remains the same.
Assistant trainer Peter Scudamore has often been the one taking Corach out to prepare for Aintree.
Erin, from Kinross - previously Abernethy - smiled that she has not been jealous and laughed: “You need to give the old boys some credit!”
Erin still has wonderful memories of the yard’s 2017 Grand National win.
“I was basically riding with Arthur every day I was in,”she remembers.
“I would even come in on my days off prior to the race.
“He was my boy and I loved him.
“Arthur was with us for a number of years. He was a character and used to drag me about all over the place.
“But that is what made him a good racehorse. That attitude. He thought he was the man and strutted about the place.
“Corach Rambler has a lot of character too. I think he has got the most expressive face I’ve ever seen on a horse.
“I’ll be sitting watching the race from home - just like I did when Arthur won.”
She added:“the job has stayed the same for me since Arthur. There was no real change. You come in, ride the horses and look after them. Obviously the yard became more high profile after 2017, but the job for me stayed the same.
“I’m doing a little less now because I’m getting a bit long in the tooth riding-wise!”
One for Arthur sadly passed away this year.
“It was really, really sad when he passed away,”erin said.“i hadn’t seen him for a wee while but the yard was always getting videos of him and we could see his progress.”
She added:“the National in 2017 was just fantastic. Sometimes if I’m feeling a bit nostalgic I’ll get on Youtube and have a wee watch of the race.
“They are great memories.”
None of us could have dreamt we’d even be going to Aintree, let alone as the favourite for the race