Grand National Trial victory by Robinsfirth is well worth waiting for

Patience paid off - for jockey Sean Bowen, trainer Colin Tizzard and two owners who have been friends since the age of 12 and enjoyed their day of days.

It's a year or two - or three - since Wendy Carter and Christine Knowles met as pony club pre-teens but their long friendship has not wavered despite the test of owning Robinsfirth, a fragile chaser who has managed just 13 appearances at the age of ten.

And it was certainly lucky 13 as their stoic fortitude was handsomely rewarded, the 8-1 shot leading in the last half-furlong at Haydock on Saturday to grab the £100,000 William Hill Grand National Trial.

Wendy Carter (left) and Christine Knowles were all smiles after Robinsfirth's victoryCredit: David Carr

"He deserved that," said the trainer's son Joe. "The horse has got bags of ability and been fragile, you can see how often we've been able to run him. That's like his Gold Cup.

"The girls who own him have had to be patient. He won his bumper, then broke a bone in his fetlock and he's had a touch of a leg - he's had all sorts of problems."

Carter knows the pitfalls of the game, as her late father used to train, and said: "What a dream! What a wonderful trainer Colin is! He's looked after the horse so well. He's got glass legs but Colin is so patient. Chris and I are very patient too, we take it as it is."

Bowen was also patient, waiting for the right moment to deliver his challenge, and Joe Tizzard said: "Sean gave him a super ride, he was wary that he picked up when Richard Johnson gave him a smack last time and didn't want to get stuck in too soon. He timed it perfectly.

"There are plenty of options, we've got four weeks until Cheltenham and he could end up in the Ultima. But today was the plan for him all season."

Robinsfirth is not in the Grand National, Carter saying: "I'm not a fan of the National, he's too precious."

But fourth-placed stablemate Royal Vacation, who carries the colours of Cue Card's owner Jean Bishop, is in the National, and Tizzard said: "Royal Vacation has run a blinder, he probably travelled best of the lot, then just flattened out.

"He's run a really nice race and I'd imagine we'll aim for the Grand National now. He jumps for fun."

Runner-up Ramses De Teillee is also in the National and trainer David Pipe said: "He's run the race of his life. The owner John Underwood has always thought of Aintree next year, but we'll see."

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