Russell hoping to raise Scotland’s profile at Aintree and beyond

FYT149 A huge crowd at the Grand National at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, UK.

Dual Grand National-winning trainer Lucinda Russell says her yard must keep ‘having a number of good horses rather than just one flagship’ star in a quest to raise the profile of National Hunt racing in Scotland.

Russell trains in the beautiful Kinross countryside half an hour north of Edinburgh with her partner Peter Scudamore MBE, an eight-time champion jockey.

Their biggest successes have come at Aintree, where One For Arthur and Corach Rambler won the Grand National in 2017 and 2023 respectively.

This year, Russell found herself with a contender at Aintree and again a week later in the Scottish National at Ayr.

She pointed to having saddled winners at both Cheltenham and Aintree this spring as major positives as she continues to fly the flag as the most successful racing yard in the history of Scottish jump racing.

Yard in transition but future looks good

Russell was unrepresented in the English and Scottish Grand Nationals last month but she admits to having no major worries.

The likes of One For Arthur and Corach Rambler have been genuine stable stars for her operation in the past but she insists the future is geared towards having depth to the talents at her Kinross base.

She said: “Before, we’ve always had one really good horse, but I think what is exciting is that to keep pushing in at the bottom with nice new horses, our quality is actually going up across the board and that has been very good for us.

“As a yard here and to help horse racing in Scotland, we have to keep on having a number of good horses rather than just one flagship.”

Apple Away given a summer rest

The mare Apple Away was being readied this season for a tilt at the Scottish Grand National. She had signed off last season by winning the Listed Maid Of Perth Mares’ Chase over three-miles and was consistent in her efforts this season.

She was second behind Famous Bridge in the Grand National Trial at Haydock over three-and-half-miles in February but was then pulled up in the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter in mid-March.

She’s still just eight-years-old and a veteran of just 11 starts over fences, so Russell was happy to give her an extended summer break having heeded the signs she might need it.

“We [had] been aiming Apple Away at [the Scottish National] all season, but she has had a long season, and I just feel that it’s for the best to give her a nice summer holiday now,” she added.

“We’ve always been really well known for our staying chasers, so it was a bit odd not having a runner in the Grand National or the Scottish National this
year.”

Building for the future

Russell’s operation places value in old fashioned customer service together with innovative thinking and modern communication to share their passion and love of horses and racing.

That innovative thinking means the yard continues to evolve and, while missing out on Aintree’s big race this season, the trainer is confident that her longer term plans will result in more opportunities to shine.

That was borne out this spring, with young horses like Myretown, Lady In The Park, Derryhassen Paddy and Jet To Vegas shining on big stages.

“We have some lovely young horses coming through, and I think that was shown when we had a winner at the Cheltenham Festival,” she added.