Horse racing: Student wins top place at Aintree

Mar 27 2009 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

LUCINDA Russell’s Milnathort stable will be cheering on student Rosanagh Robertson at Aintree next Saturday.

The 22-year-old has made the exclusive “Aintree Ten” for the 2009 John Smith’s People’s Race.

Grand National sponsor John Smith’s confirmed the Edinburgh University student had secured a coveted place in the nine-furlong charity flat race at Aintree on Grand National Day.

Rosanagh was in a strong field of 16 “apprentice riders” selected in January to go forward to the training stage, where they were assigned a professional trainer.

That field was trimmed to the “Aintree Ten” this week when contenders were put through their final paces by an expert judging panel led by professional jockey instructors Richard Perham and Malcolm Bygrave and BBC racing presenter Clare Balding at the Northern Racing College in Doncaster.

After a tense final morning’s assessment the judges made their final decision based on individual riding ability, technique, stamina and overall fitness.

Rosanagh, in her final year as an applied sports science student, showed she has made the most of her spell working with successful Kinross-shire trainer Lucinda.

Following the good news, Rosanagh said: “The assessment has been tough but now I can finally look forward to Aintree.

“So far it’s proving an incredible experience and I’m having the time of my life.

“I’m working hard on my dissertation but preparing for the race is taking over my life at the moment.”

Rosanagh, from Warwickshire, is enjoying her first taste of racing, having had experience in all other equestrian disciplines. She used to event and has travelled around the world playing polo and mustering cattle in Australia.

Her ride for the John Smith’s People’s Race is Summer Soul – a seven-year-old gelding making his second appearance in the race. Last year he was the mount of Perthshire’s Jaclyn Jamieson, a 25-year-old mother-of-two.

Each of the jockeys taking part in the People’s Race race this year will bank £,000 for their chosen charity. Rosenagh has selected Tenteleni, which supports students on placements in sub-Sahara Africa.

The winner of the John Smith’s People’s Race will collect £50,000 for their charity plus a five-star trip for two to Dubai for racing’s 2010 World Cup, or further support to develop their skills as an amateur jockey.

Commenting on the announcement, Gareth Turner, senior brand manager for John Smith’s at brand owners Scottish and Newcastle UK, said: “The standard of all 16 riders who made it through training was exceptionally high and all of them have worked tremendously hard over the last few months.

“The third BBC-televised John Smith’s People’s Race looks like being the most exciting yet and, with over £100,000 being raised for national and local charities, we know the race will produce more than one winner on April 4.”

SUMMER Soul will be one of four horses from Lucinda Russell’s yard expected to make the trip to Aintree next week.

Smart hurdler Mirage Dore, which came agonisingly close to securing Lucinda Russell’s first Cheltenham Festival winner, is entered for the feature hurdle race next Friday, the same day as Ormello tackles the Grand National fences in the Topham Chase.