All In The Family

The recent marriage of top female jockey Nina Carberry to Ted Walsh Jnr has opened up an intriguing possibility in that one family could come to dominate the 2012 Grand National winners podium and as unlikely as it sounds, the top three finishing places could go to just one family.

The family tree is a little hard to get your head around, but stick with us. Nina married Ted Walsh Jnr (Son of trainer Ted Walsh Snr) who’s other son is the top jockey Ruby Walsh. Ted Walsh Snr also has a daughter Katie, who not surprisingly is also a jockey!

The family trio of Ruby Walsh, sister Katie Walsh and sister-in-law Nina all look set to have rides in this years Grand National on April 14th. Ruby will no doubt have the pick of the best horses but right now it looks like he might opt for Prince De Beauchene.

Nina has been confirmed as jockey for Organisedconfusion, who is trained by her uncle Arthur Moore, in a partnership which won this years Irish Grand National and Katie Walsh looks likely to get a ride on the ever improving Seabass.

All three runners have a realistic chance of making the frame at Aintree. Ruby Walsh has already won the National twice, on his first attempt in 2000 onboard Papillon which was trained by his father, and again in 2005 with Hedgehunter.

Nina has successfully navigated the Aintree Grand National course three times, which leaves Katie as the least experienced Aintree jockey of the trio, as this year will be her first time round the course after narrowly missing out on a ride in 2011.

After a request from me, the online bookmaker Paddy Power have given odds on the trio finishing in the money, currently you can get 100/1 on a the Walsh family trio finishing in the money at Aintree on the 14th April.

In retrospect I should have asked Paddy Power for the price on a 1,2,3,4 family finish – I forgot that Nina’s brother Paul Carberry will also be riding in the National!