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Grand National: proud locals gather to salute Corach Rambler

By Racing TV

Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023

By Nick Seddon in Kinross

Winning trainer Lucinda Russell opened up her stables in Kinross in Scotland for locals to meet Randox Grand National hero Corach Rambler this morning – then admitted: “I’ve only had four hours’ sleep!”

The nine-year-old gave Russell a second victory in the world’s greatest steeplechase, six years after One For Arthur and Derek Fox triumphed at Aintree.

But while the superstar chaser’s owners celebrated long into the night, trainer Russell, her partner Peter Scudamore and members of their team headed home last night ready to open up the yard to local racing fans this morning.

Lucinda Russell, Peter Scudamore and Corach Rambler join us live on Luck On Sunday this morning

She said: “I couldn’t believe the amount of people here today, parked in the field and on the side of the road. I thought the police might come along and say we were disrupting things!

“There were more people today than for Arthur because Arthur started it all for us. He got the local and national interest up with racing in Scotland and it just feels great to see everyone here to come and see Corach.

“It’s also credit to Arthur that so many people followed Corach in the build-up. The professionals knew he was well treated and the Scottish people knew he was trained in Scotland so that’s why he was such a short price.

“We’ll see how he comes out of this and how we set off next season but with his rating we are maybe now looking at having to go at Graded races with him. But he’s a fabulous horse and I think he’ll be up to it. He will have a nice holiday now anyway.

“I don’t know how I will celebrate today - my four hours sleep last night is catching up with me!”

Russell’s partner Peter Scudamore, revealed the couple watched the race from a hospitality box on TV screens and were both in tears.

He said: “It was a feeling of quiet satisfaction, a job well done. I didn’t feel like rushing into Liverpool afterwards – I love my sport and just wanted to reflect on it.

“He has spoken for himself with his victory which is typical of him. We couldn’t get out to watch the race so watched it on television in the Chairman’s box – Lucinda watched one TV and I watched another.

“She cried the whole way through the race – that’s what it means to us, it’s so emotional. It’s usually me who bursts into tears!

“It’s easier to be emotionally cold as a jockey. I remember Fred Winter saying to me when I first rode 100 winners in a season, which used to be a really big thing, that no matter how many winners you ride it will never make you happy. He was right – it’s family and the people around you that make you happy.

“It was great to have Tom (Scudamore, son and former jockey) there yesterday and my grandchildren. They were a bit young when One For Arthur won but they really got it yesterday.

“When I was riding it was all about me, but now it’s us and I can enjoy it more. It was different when Arthur won – we were smaller then and he changed our lives.”

Grand National winner Corach Rambler is the centre of attention (Photo: Grossick Photography / The Jockey Club)

Meanwhile Lori Walsh, who looks after Corach Rambler at the yard, revealed that her equine hero celebrated with his favourite treat – carrots and parsnips.

She said: “So Corach has been here a good few years now. Peter Scudamore rides him every day but I get the odd chance to ride him when Scu’s away and it’s good fun.

“Corach is Scu’s baby. They’re just two peas in a pod – the perfect match for each other.

“But Corach trains himself. It’s just amazing to be a part of it. The team here is brilliant and Corach just does it all himself.

“Watching him at Cheltenham last year and this year was amazing but he doesn’t show all of what he’s got – he just does enough.

“He loves the cameras, He’s always looking for them. He loves carrots and parsnips – he gets shovels-full of them every day.

“I was there yesterday. It was a horrible feeling in my belly in the lead up to it but for him to go and do that was just amazing.

“I had Jaimie (Duff, assistant trainer) next to me while we watched the race so I had to explain where Corach was because she couldn’t watch it. He’s obviously got those distinctive markings so you could see where he was during the race. It was just amazing.

“The tears were flowing when we came back in to the winners’ enclosure. Fingers crossed for next year – and maybe the Gold Cup. I don’t know.

“We don’t get home until very late last night – about 2am – and then working first thing this morning but it was worth it. It was a great journey back.”

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