Wednesday 1 April 2015 18:48, UK
Robbie McNamara has been booked to ride top-weight Lord Windermere in the Crabbie's Grand National at Aintree on Saturday week.
Last season's Cheltenham Gold Cup hero will attempt to become the first horse to go on and win the Grand National since L'Escargot added the Merseyside showpiece in 1975 to his two wins in the blue riband in 1970-71.
McNamara, who turned professional in November after being a top amateur rider, has partnered Lord Windermere once in public before.
That was in the Dr PJ Moriarty Novice Chase at Leopardstown in February 2013, when they finished a close third to Boston Bob.
It will be his second ride in the world's greatest steeplechase after Majestic Concorde got as far as the Canal Turn on the final circuit in 2011.
Like Majestic Concorde, Lord Windermere carries the colours of Dr Ronan Lambe, who is also likely to represented in the National by Spring Heeled.
"It's a great ride to get and I'm looking forward to it," said the jockey.
"I've ridden him before in a Grade One in Leopardstown and I was supposed to ride him in the Hennessy there as well, but I broke my collarbone the day before. I'm delighted to get back on him.
"I've just had one ride in the race before, that's all. I had a great ride the whole way. He just made a mistake at the Canal Turn, he hit, turned and my saddle slipped and I came off.
"I sat on Lord Windermere last week and he's come out of the Gold Cup very well. He was bucking and squealing.
"I'm schooling him at Jim Culloty's on Friday morning."
