Sean Quinlan caps his record season with Scottish National win on Takingrisks

Sean Quinlan thanked his partner Lizzie for taming his "wild man" ways as he celebrated the biggest win of his life on Takingrisks in the Coral Scottish Grand National.

The 35-year-old hit rock bottom five years ago when given a six-month suspended prison sentence following a pub brawl.

But he has rebuilt his career and crowned his most fruitful season yet with a landmark success on the Nicky Richards-trained ten-year-old.

Quinlan said: "I've been with Lizzie [Butterworth] for four and a half years and it's made such a difference to me. I used to be such a wild man but she has really tamed me.

"She sorts out everything for me at home and has made all this possible – all I have to do is go out and ride the horses.

"Paddy Brennan told me 'behind every good man there's a good woman' and he's right. Today is easily the biggest win and best day of my career. We had a scare when he nearly came down at the first and it was just fear that kicked in and kept me going.

"Every time I gave him a squeeze at a fence he came up for me and he just jumped and travelled all the way, but I was worried about getting there too soon. I feel so emotional to have won such a prestigious race as this.

"I feel that's it's good also that the race has gone to the north. It's always hard for us when the southern boys come up here."

With the support of trainers such as Sue Smith, Jennie Candlish, Brian Ellison, Dianne Sayer and Nicky Richards, Quinlan has surpassed his pre-season target of 50 winners – the Scottish National was his 54th success of the campaign.

Unbelievable season

Thumbs-up: it's been a great season for Sean QuinlanCredit: John Grossick Racing

"It's been an unbelievable season for me and my agent Richard Hale has been very good," he said.

"Brian Hughes is the leading rider in the north and I'm just a journeyman jockey with others looking for spare rides. I've come in for more spare rides this season because of injuries to others."

Quinlan found it a struggle when coming over from Ireland 14 years ago. He said: "I was based in the south to start with and it was hard to get rides.

"It was better when I moved north. Harvey Smith was a big help and he gave me rides on some of his wife Sue's horses.

"Lots of other trainers in the north have also helped me out including Nicky Richards, and I'll probably have a drink with him in his local pub on my way home tonight to celebrate this win as I have a day off tomorrow."

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