'My hands were shaking, I couldn't watch - Ted Walsh did commentary for me'
Brian Sheerin talks to a National-winning trainer who has high hopes again
It has been a long wait to find another horse capable of meeting the unique challenge that Aintree sets but, 16 years after winning the Randox Grand National with Numbersixvalverde, Martin Brassil is brimming with optimism that Longhouse Poet can repeat the trick.
Although Longhouse Poet is not in the mould of Numbersixvalverde, why does Brassil believe he can be guided down a familiar road to greatness?
Numbersixvalverde took years of hard chiselling. His 2006 triumph came at the age of ten, on his seventh start that season and 12 months after he ground out a memorable victory in the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.
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Copy- 'You can see why people end up struggling - when you're trying to pay the electric bill, losing one ride can be massive'
- 'I've never paid six figures for a horse and never will - I learned pretty quickly you're only one phone call away from f*** all'
- 'I’ve trained some fabulous horses, worked with some excellent riders - maybe I have brought a little bit of talent to the table as well'
- ‘When you’re in the moment and you’re starved, you’re ready to explode - everything built up and I just lost my s**t’
- 'He must have his breakfast earlier than Willie does' - Patrick Mullins goes behind enemy lines at Gordon Elliott's yard
- 'You can see why people end up struggling - when you're trying to pay the electric bill, losing one ride can be massive'
- 'I've never paid six figures for a horse and never will - I learned pretty quickly you're only one phone call away from f*** all'
- 'I’ve trained some fabulous horses, worked with some excellent riders - maybe I have brought a little bit of talent to the table as well'
- ‘When you’re in the moment and you’re starved, you’re ready to explode - everything built up and I just lost my s**t’
- 'He must have his breakfast earlier than Willie does' - Patrick Mullins goes behind enemy lines at Gordon Elliott's yard