‘I couldn’t believe the size of the National fences – mesmerising to a city boy’

As a child I’m told I used to sit on the arm of the sofa and swear at the end of each race – I was copying Dad, but my parents quickly put a stop to that! I remember watching Rubstic win the 1979 Grand National, which was the race that really got me hooked. I couldn’t believe the size of the fences or the number of runners – it was mesmerising to a city boy.

Then came Door Latch, Remittance Man, Willsford, Rough Quest – all favourites until the two Ks. Kauto Star and Kodicil. We’ve all waxed lyrical about Kauto Star and he was poetry in motion when regaining the Gold Cup, plus Cheltenham is my favourite track, without question – the roar on Champion Hurdle day as they start the Supreme is unreal!

However, Kodicil is the first horse I owned – we got him after my mum passed to take our mind off things. He was amazing, and gave me my most memorable moment when getting his first win on the board for us at Ripon – even our trainer Mark [Walford] was teary, because he knew how and why we got involved. He’s now won on the Flat, over hurdles and over fences – we think Dougie Costello must be the only modern-day jockey to achieve that feat.