Tom Scudamore: ‘Winning the Grand National would be the pinnacle of my career.’

Being on the favourite for this race does mean everyone wants to talk to you about it, as I say that is a privilege and it is nice to be talking about, but also it does get to the stage where as a sportsman you get fed up with the talking, and you just want to get on with it, actions do speak louder than words!

In terms of the preparation on the day, I’ll try to make it as normal as it can be. I’ll be staying with my brother Michael on Friday night, and I’ll ride out with his string on Saturday morning, before heading off to Aintree.

That journey in will obviously be very different, with none of the usual crowds heading to the track, and once I’m there I’ll just try to make it feel as much like any other race day as it’s possible to in these circumstances.

Cloth Cap is favourite, and rightly so on the form of his last two wins, he’s been a revelation this season and I’m delighted to have kept the ride since his Ladbrokes Trophy win, so big thanks go to [the owner] Mr Hemmings for allowing me to ride him.

Trevor is a man who loves the National and I know how much pride it would give him to win this race again.

Cloth Cap has never been over the National fences, but the way he jumps gives every hope that he’ll take to them, and on what we’ve seen he’s got the stamina for this trip, although as always you never know until they try it.

He’s trained by the right man in Jonjo [O’Neill], I went down to Jackdaws to sit on him last week and couldn’t have been happier with him, I’ve been counting down the days since then.

All the interest there’s been in him – and me! – this week confirms the National is still the race as far as the public are concerned, it’s part of our heritage and that’s fantastic for us all.

I mentioned our family’s history in the race. I was aware of grandfather’s win from an early age, and although dad never managed to win it as a jockey – something his father did occasionally remind him of! – he was closely involved with winners Earth Summit and One For Arthur, so we all took an enormous amount of pride in that.

It would be the pinnacle of my career if I could win the race. I know my family are already extremely proud of my achievements as a rider, but winning the National and adding my own chapter to the Scudamore history in the race would make them all so proud.

Tom

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