Geoff Brown’s Aintree anxiety

Apr 12 2011 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

Geoff Brown’s Aintree anxiety

GEOFF Brown yesterday admitted St Johnstone’s looming Scottish Cup semi-final with Motherwell will be a dawdle compared with watching his horse in the Grand National, writes Gordon Bannerman.

It should have been a day to remember for the Perthshire horse lover but instead, in the world’s most famous race, he found himself fearing for the horse he bred at Kinfauns’ stables.

And the St Johnstone chairman has confirmed nine-year-old grey Silver By Nature won’t be risked in the Aintree race again.

The highly-regarded Lucinda Russell trained contender survived a race which saw two horses killed, to come home 12th despite unfavourable conditions. Just 19 of the 40 starters completed the John Smiths sponsored race.

Brown said: “It was the worst sporting experience of my life, without a doubt. It was terrible. I have never felt more tense.

“The stress was unbelievable. Way worse than any football match. The cup semi-final will be much more relaxing!”

“I should have listened to the voice inside me telling me not to run the horse. I should have listened to my wife Joyce.

“It was awful seeing two horses lying there dying on the first circuit and worrying myself sick about our horse and knowing it had no chance of winning. It was awful knowing what I had exposed the horse to because the risk factor was increasing by the minute.

“It was a tremendous achievement getting round the 30 fences in front of 73,000 people but that’s it. We have been there, done it and won’t be back.

“I couldn’t believe the odds came in from 16/1 to 9/1 during the day and Tonto set off as second favourite. That meant millions of pounds had gone on him.

“It was bizarre. The track had been watered overnight and there was talk of good to soft going. But it was baking hot, into the mid seventies, and all the pundits had stressed he needed heavy going to make use of his incredible stamina.

“Those were the conditions in races he had won.

“At no stage did I ever suggest punters should back him. Quite the opposite and I was trying to keep it low key by steering clear of television interviews. I wasn’t leading anyone up the garden path. So the next person that says they want their fiver back can expect a Glasgow kiss!”