Catterick’s National Hunt season continues on Thursday 9 January with its most prestigious National Hunt race, the North Yorkshire Grand National, kindly sponsored by the Richmond based racecourse supplier firm Watt Fences.
The race, which is also Catterick’s longest, runs over three miles and six furlongs and has £23,783 prize money on offer.
The Watt Fences North Yorkshire Grand National, scheduled for 2.40pm, attracts runners from some of the leading trainers in the United Kingdom, but it is Yorkshire based trainer Sue Smith that racegoers will want to see with a runner again this year.
Smith has won the race back-to-back for the last four years and will be looking to make it a fifth in this year’s renewal.
Fiona Needham, General Manager and Clerk of the Course said: “The North Yorkshire Grand National is a true test of jumping ability and stamina, and Sue Smith’s horses seem to love it – we will have to mark the occasion with something special if she wins again this year!”
Jockey Danny Cook has also enjoyed tremendous success in the race having won it three times previously aboard Lackamon in 2016, Straidnahanna in 2017 and Sharp Response in 2019, all trained by Sue Smith.
In 2018, Smith won with I Just Know, ridden by Sean Quinlan, who then went on to compete in the 2018 Grand National at Aintree.
Fiona adds: “It’s fantastic to see horses that have started their careers at Catterick go on to perform at places like Cheltenham and Aintree – we’re looking forward to following the career of this year’s runners!”
The winning owner of the North Yorkshire Grand National will receive the Denys Smith Memorial Trophy. Denys Smith, who trained Red Alligator to win the 1968 Grand National at Aintree, was a leading dual-purpose trainer who recorded a remarkable 146 winners at Catterick.
Racegoers will enjoy a seven-race card on the day which gets underway at 12.25pm, while the gates will be open to the public from 10.25am onwards. The last race is scheduled for 3.45pm.
A free shuttle bus will run from Richmond Market Place to bring racegoers to the racecourse approximately 1 hour prior to the first race and will return after the last.
Tickets will be available to purchase at the gates on the day, while advanced and group booking discounts are available online here. Accompanied under 18’s are admitted free of charge.
Listen to Fiona Needham talk about the North Yorkshire Grand National here, and hear which horse Sue Smith is planning to run here.