Yorkshire trainer, Sue Smith, is aiming to continue her incredible winning streak in the Watt Fences North Yorkshire Grand National at Catterick Racecourse this Thursday 10 January, and become the first trainer to win the race four years in a row.
Smith who is based at Craiglands Farm in Bingley, has won the race for the last three successive years with victories from I Just Know last year, Straidnahanna in 2017, and Lackamon in 2016.
Speaking to Great British Racing, Smith said: “It would be great to win the race for the fourth consecutive time – it’s a fantastic race for Yorkshire and we like to support our local tracks.”
Catterick is a racecourse where Smith has enjoyed many successes during her 20 years of training, with a total of 80 wins at the track: “Catterick do a great job with the North Yorkshire Grand National and it’s definitely a race we always look out for and like to win. We have been lucky enough to win it three times, but would love to win it again.”
Sharp Response is the horse chosen to go for that fourth successive win and with jockey Danny Cook, who himself has won the Watt Fences North Yorkshire Grand National twice, expected to be on-board, Smith sees no reason why the dream can’t come true: “Sharp Response has been consistent this year and seems to like it around Catterick, so I’m sure he will give it a good go and hopefully he can win.”
The trainer’s biggest win famously came in 2013 when Auroras Encore secured victory in the illustrious John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree at the huge price of 66/1, an achievement Smith is hoping to repeat one-day. “Most definitely I would love to win the Grand National again – it is every trainer’s dream but you need a special horse to win it. Who knows, Sharp Response might be that special horse and could be giving it a go one day.”
Tickets are still available, starting from as little as £5. Click here for more information.
Watch the Watt Fences North Yorkshire Grand National Handicap Chase this Thursday 10 January from 2:45pm live on Racing TV.