At The Races

Mick Fitzgerald's National Course Guide

Mick Fitzgerald knows the highs and lows of the daunting Grand National fences better than anyone. He won the most famous race in the world on Rough Quest in 1996, famously describing it as ‘better than sex.’

Twelve years later he would ride for the last time when sustaining a career-ending injury after falling at the second aboard L’Ami.

Here, the former top jockey gives a fence-by-fence guide of Aintree’s unique obstacles.

First Fence (1 & 17)
In isolation, the first is not big a fence and has a bit of a drop on the back but the fact you have such a long run to it causes all sorts of problems. A lot of horses gallop straight into it and I fell there three times. The first circuit - and particularly the first fence - is all about survival. You can’t win the Grand National if you’re lying on the floor.

Second Fence (2 & 18)
The second is an innocuous fence and it shouldn’t really be a problem. Unfortunately it was for me aboard L’Ami in 2008. He jumped the first well, settled into a nice rhythm and was exactly where I wanted him to be. However, he took an extra stride and we fell. It would be the last time I would ride a horse.

Fence 3 & 19
This is the first real big test of both horse and jockey. It’s a wide open ditch and one of the biggest fences on the course. Rough Quest put in a brilliant leap over the third in 1996 and I knew from that point of the race that if I could keep him out of trouble he would win. Getting over it boosts your confidence.

Becher’s Brook (6 & 22)
When you’re approaching Becher’s it looks like any other fence. However, when you get to the other side you suddenly think ‘where has the ground gone?’ Every single horse pecks a little on landing, even if you jump it on the wide outside. It’s a fence that you have to respect, if you don’t it will get you.

Foinavon (7 & 23)
It’s a small fence and a lot easier than Becher’s but it’s one you see a lot of horses make mistakes at because they don’t think they have to bother as much.

Canal Turn (8 & 24)
In the 70s and 80s riders used to try cutting right over the corner on the left; I think you can’t try and take too much off the angle of the Canal Turn because you run the risk of either something trying to come up your inside or getting it wrong. If a jockey is not aware of where he is in the race it can also cause problems.

Valentines (9 & 25) 
This is a big ditch with a bit of a brook at the back of it. It’s a tricky enough fence but the line of fences from Valentines down to the third last is a really nice group of a straight run of fences. The car always runs alongside these fences and jockeys know the cameras are on them so the front-runners try to turn on the style.

The Chair (Fence 15)
The Chair is the biggest fence on the course and one where I’ve had a couple of falls but I don’t think it’s that bad a fence to jump. There’s almost a step up to it and I think you are better off to pop it as opposed to be aggressive and try to ride it for a long stride.

The Water Jump (Fence 16)
This is the easiest fence on the course. After the relief of jumping the water it’s important that you get your horse switched back on as you are close to the crowd and you have to do it all again on the second circuit.

Second Circuit
You have a nice clear run from the water to crossing the Melling Road and going out on the final circuit -so that is the ideal time to improve your position. It is important not to try and improve your position while jumping because you then put yourself into a position where you need to make up ground and it is very difficult to make up ground unless you are jumping particularly well.

The Elbow and the Run-in
After successfully negotiating thirty Grand National fences you then have to undertake a gruelling run-in, the longest run-in of any race in the country. It’s a hell of a long way from home even when you're past the Elbow after nearly four and a half miles when the horse is tired it feels a lot longer. It is a lot easier to ride the run-in if you have plenty of horse underneath you, which I did when on Rough Quest. It was a case of me delivering my challenge after the Elbow.

When I won the Grand National in 1996 it was just an amazing feeling. It doesn’t get any better than to cross that line first in the Grand National.

The race is such a great occasion, all the razzmatazz, the parade and horses circling down at the start are part of and parcel of the history of the National - one of the greatest sporting events in the world.

To win the Grand National makes a hell of a difference to a jockey’s career. I went from being Mick Fitzgerald jockey to Mick Fitzgerald Grand National-winning jockey. And last year it propelled Liam Treadwell.

My advice to anyone riding the National fences is not to be too brave and to treat the fences with the respect they deserve.

Best of luck to all on Saturday.