Maguire hopes for Silver lining to National bid

Apr 5 2008 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

SOME jockeys wait a lifetime to win a John Smith’s Grand National and the chance never arrives. So to pass up the opportunity of riding the winner must be particularly galling.

But for Jason Maguire it could be that 12 months on opportunity has knocked again when he rides favourite Cloudy Lane this afternoon.

Maguire was asked by his friend, trainer Gordon Elliott, if he would ride Silver Birch in last season’s Aintree showpiece. But having already given his word to ride Idle Talk for Donald McCain junior – he passed up the chance of a lifetime. But that faith in McCain’s runners could be repaid if Cloudy Lane passes the post in front after four-and-a-half miles of gruelling action today.

Last year Maguire wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry as he was unseated from Idle Talk at the 19th fence as, under Robbie Power, Elliott’s Silver Birch triumphed at 33-1.

Maguire said: “I’ve still got mixed feelings about last year’s Grand National.

“On one hand I was delighted for Gordon. We were old school friends in Ireland so it was great for him that he won the race. But then again I could have ridden the winner of the Grand National.

“I actually walked the course with Gordon on the morning of the race and he was a bit worried the ground was too quick for Silver Birch. I’ve ridden him a few times, though, and thought it was perfect – and so it was.

“It was probably unfortunate that I didn’t get to ride him, but I’d made commitments to Donald and I was proud to have stuck by Idle Talk. I’m glad I did because things have gone full-circle and I’m now on the favourite for the Grand National.”

Maguire is now McCain’s stable jockey and both trainer and rider have gone from strength to strength during the campaign. It is already McCain and the Bankhouse stable’s best season with more than 50 winners. And for Maguire he is also on course for one of his best totals, with 40-plus winners already.

The best, though, could be yet to come.

Maguire rode Cloudy Lane on his racecourse debut, when he was second in a Uttoxter bumper three seasons ago. Since then he has won five times aboard the eight-year-old. The last three at Haydock, Ayr and Doncaster, though, are the reason Cloudy Lane goes into today’s race as favourite and theoretically well handicapped as the best horse in the race.

Maguire, who is the nephew of Gold Cup-winning jockey Adrian, said: “We always knew he was a handy horse but I think the turning point was when he won a big handicap at Haydock two years ago. We all started thinking that this is a serious animal and could well be a National horse one day.

“The improvement he has shown since then has been frightening.

“He’s not a massive horse but he jumps so well. I don’t see any reason why he won’t handle those fences.”

Maguire is delighted to have teamed up with a trainer on the up and a family enshrined in National history.

Maguire said: “Donald’s a good, honest man and has been very fair to me.

“Ginger’s obviously still around and adds a bit of zip to the place, but Donald’s very much his own man.

“It’s all about placing horses to good effect and Donald has done that so brilliantly.

“It’s a tribute to him and the rest of the lads that they’ve got Cloudy Lane looking like a million dollars and ready to go to the National off a good weight. These are exciting times.”