05 Apr 2016 11:10
For most trainers and jockeys, winning the Crabbie's Grand National is something that will only ever remain a dream from the moment they start out until calling time on their career.
Back in 1990 trainer Kim Bailey saw his name added to the list of the lucky few to win the world-famous race as Mr Frisk successfully fought out one of the closest finishes in recent times.
In the firing line from the outset, the 11-year-old jumped soundly in the hands of amateur Marcus Armytage for a three-quarter-length success in a course record time of eight minutes 47.8 seconds from the Arthur Stephenson-trained Durham Edition.
While the sport has moved on, the memory of that victory for the 62-year-old Bailey remains as vivid as it was the day the story unfolded.
He said: "It was pretty easy to remember, I walked the course in the morning with Marcus and his dad and then had a quiet lunch before the big race came along.
"He had the fast ground that he wanted. He jumped off very handy, travelled well and jumped very well. It all went to plan. I think when Hywel Davies (Uncle Merlin) parted company and left us in front at Becher's Brook I got very nervous.
"I was watching Durham Edition as he was the only horse that could give us a hard time and while the end of the race took something like 30 seconds to end for the rest of the world, it felt more like 10 minutes to me."
While the aftermath saw him receive congratulations from members of the public and his fellow professionals, Bailey was nearly deprived of his chance to greet his Aintree hero on the track.
He said: "I think I stood there in stunned silence as you are not quite sure what to do. As I walked out of the stands everyone was slapping me on the back. As I went on to the racecourse to see the horse these two policemen manhandled me away. I think it was Marcus who said to them he is the person that trains the horse.
"It was in the days of the old winner's enclosure and I had watched the likes of Aldaniti and others go back there, and there I was in that same winner's enclosure. It didn't give me a huge amount of extra horses, but to win the Grand National is something very few people have done."
Although Bailey and Armytage - now a renowned racing journalist - can now look back at the race with great affection, that victory may never have happened had owner Lois Duffey had her way.
Bailey said: "Mrs Duffey didn't like the idea of the National at first and I had to persuade her to let me run him, but she spent the prize-money in a week as she knew how to celebrate.
"Marcus ended up on him as Richard Dunwoody had been asked to ride him but turned him down. I needed to make a decision and Marcus had ridden him in an amateur race the time before and I knew that Marcus would be around."
Even after celebrations had died down on the track, the impact of victory for Bailey was acknowledged by the wider public - as he witnessed first-hand on his way back to his yard.
He said: "As I was coming back from the races I stopped at some services on the M6 as there was a call of nature that needed to take place. I suppose there was a few hundred people queuing for the gents as there had been a football match on that day.
"I stood at the back of the queue in my suit and I tapped the chap in front of me on the back and asked whether I could go in front of him and you can imagine the language.
"When I said I had just won the Grand National it was almost like the parting of the Red Sea and I ended up going in isolation with everybody watching me!"
While not short of creditable contenders to give him a second win in the race since his moment of glory 26 years ago, Bailey is of the opinion that his entry in this year's renewal, The Last Samuri, represents his best chance of enjoying another magical moment on Merseyside.
Since joining Bailey from Donald McCain the eight-year-old has thrived, winning two of his three starts this season, including a wide-margin victory in the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster.
Bailey said: "Docklands Express had a very good chance, while the year Master Oats had his chance to win it the ground had gone against him but he still ran a blinder.
"I would say, though, that the Last Samuri is probably my best chase since Mr Frisk of winning it again. He was very much talked about being a potential National horse when he came here this season. He is becoming more relaxed from the way he was and he was very good last time out at Doncaster. I don't know how good a race it was, but he did what was asked of him."
With The Last Samuri not far off favourite for the great race, there is an element of pressure weighing on the shoulders of Bailey - but it is a feeling he is happy to have if it means a second National success is just around the corner.
He said: "When you've not had horses as good as him for a while pressure is something you want, as you wouldn't do it otherwise. I will never forget what it feels like to win, although it was 26 years ago it doesn't feel like it. The National it is the race that gives you the greatest publicity.
"As a professional you want to win the Gold Cup, as it means you have the best horse, but the National is the race everyone remembers. It was great to win it once in my lifetime and no one can take that away from me, but it would be great to win it again."
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