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Nina Carberry Takes Ride on Character Building
08/04/10

Amateur rider Nina Carberry has been booked to ride the John Quinn-trained Character Building in the John Smith’s Grand National. The 10-year-old gelding, who is set to have his first start in the big race, was bought earlier this week by Patricia Thompson of Cheveley Park Stud, owners of the 1992 winner Party Politics.

Comply or Die & Character Building
© racing-images.co.uk

Confirming the booking, John Quinn said this morning: “Mrs Thompson said she was a huge fan of Nina and said she would like her to ride the horse if Tony McCoy, Ruby Walsh or a top jockey was not available.

“She asked me what I thought and one could only say that she’s outstanding. Mrs Thompson asked me to book Nina so I rang to ask her if she’d like the ride and she said she’d be delighted.”

Character Building will be Nina Carberry’s second John Smith’s Grand National partner after the amateur jockey rode Forest Gunner into ninth place in 2006 becoming the fourth female rider in history to complete the course. Her brother Paul won the 1999 Grand National on Bobbyjo, trained by their father Tommy.

The last time the John Smith’s Grand National was won by an amateur jockey was in 1990 when Marcus Armytage, now racing correspondent for the Daily Telegraph, won in record time on Mr Frisk.