Tom Scudamore
History and persistence play an incredible roll in Tom Scudamore’s Grand National career. He has ridden in it twelve times but has yet to cross the finishing line first, in fact, placing 8th has been has best performance.
He is the third generation of Scudamores’ to ride in the National with his grandfather Michael who rode Linwell to win the 1957 Gold Cup and Oxo to win the 1959 Grand National, while his father Peter, although the National eluded him, rode a total of 1,677 winners, bettered only by Richard Dunwoody and A P McCoy.
He turned professional when he was 20 and was attached to Martin Pipes stables, but also, through his father maintained close links with the Nigel Twiston-Davies yard. He rode in the National for his second time in 2002, and again was the youngest rider in the race, but again victory was not to be his.
Tom is recognised as one of the top jockeys in the country who has had wins in the Weatherbys Long Distance Hurdle on Maid Equal at Ascot, the Barton and Guestier Hurdle at Aintree on Carlovent, the Ladbroke Hurdle on Desert Air, the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup Chase on Heltonic, the Eider Chase on Nil Desperandum and the VC Casino.com Gold Cup Chase at Newbury on Madison du Berlais.
In March 2007 Tom was made number one jockey to David Pipe, and rode Battle cry for him in the 2009 Grand National where he finished the course and placed 16th overall. He rode Madison Du Berlais in 2010 but fell at the 19th fence and didn’t ride in the 2011 Grand National.
The 2012 season was great for Scudamore as he rode outsider The Giant Bolster second to Synchronised in the 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup and 24 hours later he triumphed aboard Master Overseer in the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter.
He partnered Junior in the 2012 Grand National and despite the highest of hopes and expectations didn’t get very far at all, falling at the 2nd fence on the day.
For the 2013 Grand National, Scudamore was booked for the Nigel Twiston-Davies Major Malarkey who just scraped in with a few days to go due to the withdrawal of Quinz. He got around but finished just outside of the money in 11th place.
He notched up two fantastic wins at the 2014 Cheltenham Festival in the Ryanair Chase on Dynaste and the Arkle Challenge on Western Warhorse both for David Pipe so it’s no surprise that he’s on board another of his hopes, The Package for the 2014 Crabbies Grand National.
