David Bass

In 2009, David Bass, a promising young conditional rider took the chance to move to Nicky Henderson’s high-powered Lambourn yard which propelled the career of then 21-year-old into the fast lane.

Bass grew up in Ringstead near Kettering and first came to the attention of county race watchers in April 2009 when scoring on 7/1 shot Man From Highworth in a novices’ chase for the late John Manners with AP McCoy back in second place.

“I always wanted to be a jockey when I was very young – in fact I was obsessed with racing,” said Bass

“My dad Philip and grandfather Albert used to take me to point to points such as the Oakley meeting, which is where I first picked up the bug.”

He said: “I did have a few rides on ponies when I was small but somehow I got away from the racing and started playing football when I was at secondary school.

“Then one day when I was 16 I went racing again with my father to Stratford and decided that was what I wanted to do.”

He contacted the British Racing School and from there was given a job at Richard Phillips’ stables near Stow-on-the-wold.

This will be David Bass’s first Aintree Grand National and it will be on board the much fancied Shakalakaboomboom for trainer Nicky Henderson.