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Enda McElhinney

Enda McElhinney is a racing writer with a growing portfolio of work on both British and Irish racing, with a particular fondness for National Hunt racing. While he acknowledges there have been many great runners; there has only ever been one Denman.
@scoobsy
August 18th 2021, 2:41 pm

Sefton move should help Grand National ambitions

By Enda McElhinney
Aintree’s clerk of the course Sulekha Varma believes the decision to move the Grand Sefton Handicap Chase from December to November will assist trainers in their plans for the biggest race in the jumps calendar. One of just five races staged over the National fences during the season, the Grand Sefton has routinely been run […]
August 5th 2021, 9:30 am

Three of the Best Runners at Aintree

By Enda McElhinney
The Grand National is the most iconic steeplechase in the world and each year in April it creates a major sporting buzz, unmatched in terms of widespread appeal amongst the sporting community as a racing event. Winning the Aintree showpiece guarantees a place in the pantheon of Grand National history. Some winners are, of course, […]
July 22nd 2021, 12:05 pm

Blackmore in ‘good spirits’ after leg break

By Enda McElhinney
Grand National heroine Rachael Blackmore was said to be in ‘good spirits’ having undergone surgery on a fractured ankle sustained at Killarney on Friday. Barely a week after her 32nd birthday, Blackmore suffered the biggest injury of her professional career following a nasty fall from 11-10 favourite Merry Poppins in the 2m4f handicap hurdle at […]
July 7th 2021, 3:32 pm

Harrington pays tribute to retiring Magic Of Light

By Enda McElhinney
Trainer Jessica Harrington labelled Magic Of Light a ‘superstar mare’ after confirming the 2019 Grand National runner-up was being retired from racing. Magic Of Light famously got closest to Tiger Roll at Aintree in 2019 when he won his second Grand National. She would go on and win a Listed Newbury race over fences the […]
June 16th 2021, 4:41 pm

Ten of the Best – Aintree winners in the last decade

By Enda McElhinney
Rachael Blackmore made Grand National history in April 2021, becoming the first female rider to win the world’s most iconic jumps race but how well do you remember the recent roll of honour at Aintree? Here’s a quick recap of the last ten Grand National winners at the famous Merseyside venue. 2011 – Ballabriggs The […]
June 2nd 2021, 2:39 pm

Champion thought Aldaniti ‘was a formality’

By Enda McElhinney
Bob Champion was ever-so confident that Aldaniti would provide one of Aintree’s most emotional Grand National tales ahead of the 1981 race. Both horse and rider had overcome trials in their lives before conquering the world’s greatest steeplechase and Champion has been recalling the famous win 40 years on. Battles off the racecourse To mark […]
May 19th 2021, 7:12 pm

Blackmore grateful for racing’s exposure

By Enda McElhinney
Grand National-winning jockey Rachael Blackmore says racing has found itself in a privileged position during the last 12 months of pandemic times. While many sports have been forced to stall, or at least to change tact, racing has been able to continue uninterrupted since last June. With spectator-less sport the norm, racing has found itself […]
May 10th 2021, 9:28 am

Blackmore’s Aintree glory inspiring more women

By Enda McElhinney
Rachael Blackmore’s been making plenty of history for herself recently and fellow jockey Ella McCain says her landmark achievements are leading to female riders simply being ‘classed as normal jockeys’ as opposed to carrying a gender tag. Blackmore’s spectacular spring inspires colleagues In March, 31-year-old Irish rider Blackmore was crowned leading rider at the Cheltenham […]
May 10th 2021, 9:21 am

Nicholls has the Game for Aintree challenge

By Enda McElhinney
The 2022 Randox Grand National has been earmarked by Paul Nicholls as a long-term target for Topofthegame. It’s more than two years since Topofthegame was sighted on a racetrack but his trainer has clear plans for next season if he can get him back to full fitness. Cheltenham winner on the sidelines The Flemensfirth gelding […]
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