'The second circuit was a joy' - Aspell hails special National hero Many Clouds

Dual Grand National-winning jockey Leighton Aspell has hailed Many Clouds as a "special horse for lots of reasons", when reflecting on his career in the saddle.

Aspell retired from race-riding at Fontwell on Sunday and the following day joined Joshua Stacey and Charlie Poste on the Racing Post’s Racing Riot podcast to discuss his career highlights.

The Richard Newland-trained Pineau De Re provided Aspell with a first Grand National success in 2014 and he repeated the feat the following year on Many Clouds, trained by Oliver Sherwood.

Aspell, who rode 922 winners in Britain and Ireland, partnered Many Clouds on each of his 27 starts, including when defeating Thistlecrack in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January 2017, after which he sadly suffered a fatal pulmonary haemorrhage.

Aspell told the Racing Riot podcast: “It was fantastic to win the National twice. Pineau De Re was absolutely on the peak of his form as he arrived on the back of a close running-on third in the Coral Cup and Richard Newland’s horses were running really well. He was in great shape that day and it worked out really well.

“I had to get off Pineau De Re to ride Many Clouds the year after, which was difficult, but Many Clouds was a special horse for lots of reasons. We thought he ran disappointingly in the Gold Cup but when you look back it wasn’t a bad run and he produced the goods at Aintree.

“I got great pleasure out of winning the National on Many Clouds. He was an easy ride in the National. Whereas Pineau De Re was a small horse and we both had to work hard, Many Clouds just travelled around beautifully. The second circuit was a joy – I slotted behind the leaders down the inside and he jumped so well. It was fantastic.”

Many Clouds: won the Grand National in 2015Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Aspell finished second on his final ride aboard Itsnotwhatyouthink in the bumper at Fontwell and is taking some time out before making any future plans.

He said: “It was a great day at Fontwell and a very busy one with lots of well wishers and people coming to say good luck for the future and I had some great friends and colleagues there.

“I’m really proud of my career and I have some great memories over the years. I’ve been a lucky boy to have some good relationships with trainers that have lasted a long time and kept producing winners."

He added: “Retirement started to weigh heavy on my mind and I was thinking about when to do it on a daily basis. When the entries came out for Fontwell and I was confident it was going to beat the weather, I decided that was the right time.

“I’m going to take some time out now and I have a few options for the future. I have a pre-training setup, I’m a fully qualified jockey coach and I’m quite into form analysis so I’ll chuck out a few feelers and see where it goes.”

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