Grand National-winning jockey Liam Treadwell is hoping to become the first British jockey in nearly 20 years to take the famous Velka Pardubicka when he rides in the race this weekend (13 October).
Every year brave jockeys make their way to the Czech Republic to contest one of the most formidable steeplechases in the world.
There are 31 obstacles – the most fearsome being the “Taxis”, a stiff hedge with a massive ditch on landing.
Liam will be riding one of the favourites for the race – Trezor, trained by Hana Kabelkov ¡.
“I’ve ridden him twice in qualifying races at the course and have won both times,” said Liam, who took the Grand National with Mon Mome in 2009.
“He felt great – he’s a smashing jumper. You need a bit of luck in this race, but he’s in great form and I’m hopeful.”
The last Brit to win was trainer Charlie Mann, who rode It’s A Snip to victory in 1995.
This will be Liam’s first run in the race.
H&H racing correspondent and former jockey Marcus Armytage rode in the Pardubicka three times.
“Only George Williamson, in the 1890s, has won both the National and Pardubicka but Liam stands a good chance of becoming the second,” he said.
“The first time I took part was six months after I won the Grand National [in 1990 on Mr Frisk] so I was quite cocky, and I ended up finishing sixth.
I got progressively worse, so I decided to call it a day after 1992, when I hit the deck at the Taxis”.
This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (11 October 2012)
