Prize-winning George had day to remember courtesy of the Racing Post

Although the dream of part-owning a runner in the 2018 Grand National ended when Final Nudge was an unlucky faller at the Canal Turn, Racing Post reader Andrew George said he would cherish the experience forever.

George, a data officer from Kendal in Cumbria, won a five per-cent share in the David Dennis-trained nine-year-old in a Racing Post competition, and ended up rubbing shoulders with the likes of Rich Ricci and Michael O’Leary as well as having an enlightening look at what goes on behind the scenes.

He said on Sunday: “It was an unbelievable experience, in getting to the course early and collecting the owner’s passes, being gifted a pen with 'Grand National Owner 2018' inscribed on it, to seeing the Irish horses out on the course well before racing started.

“Tony Martin’s head lad Mick Cromwell came over for a chat and we were allowed to stroke Anibale Fly’s head. We were chatting away for quite a while; just to see the work that goes on with these magnificent creatures behind the scenes was a once-in-a-lifetime thing in itself.”

George said being in the owners' and trainers' bar before racing was another huge eye-opener as he found himself on a table next to Ricci and Michael O’Leary.

"That was a real privilege as ordinary people such as myself normally see them only in the parade ring before races," he said.

“I must admit I had reservations about Rich Ricci but I ended up speaking to him and he chatted away freely about the new horse called Palixandre he has with Nicky Henderson, who he thinks is something special and could run at Ayr’s Scottish Grand National meeting next weekend. I'm a big fan of Nicky Henderson so I'll be following the horse.”

As the big moment of Final Nudge running in the world’s biggest steeplechase arrived, George was joined by Dennis in the parade ring and was privy to all the instructions handed out by the trainer to jockey Gavin Sheehan. Unfortunately, the pair encountered trouble in running at the Canal Turn and ended up on the deck.

Safe and sound

George added: “There were a few worrying moments as they initially could not find Final Nudge. But all was well in the end and the best result of the day was that he walked back safe and sound to the cooling area and was found to be fine after being checked over fully by a racecourse vet.

“As for the emotions I witnessed in the parade ring watching the race, some owners were pure nerves and some were in tears even before the whole thing got under way. I was stood behind Michael O’Leary and he started to celebrate as if he'd won after Tiger Roll jumped the last.

“But then Pleasant Company rallied so strongly and there did not look to be anything in it at the line. Michael O’Leary definitely had his heart in his mouth.”

George concluded by saying: “It will be hard to top the day out I had courtesy of the Racing Post and I would dearly love to be back in the position as an owner again in that parade ring on a Saturday in April. The whole thing was a dream come true.”