Hughes team hoping for victory

In horseracing more than any other sport, the best-laid plans can unravel in a heartbeat.

The capricious nature of the game is the chief reason behind Tommy Hughes’ guarded stance ahead of the John Smith’s Grand National.

He has been closely involved with the progress of Point Barrow, trained by his father Pat and one of the leading fancies to maintain the Irish stranglehold on the great prize.

Despite Hughes’ naturally outgoing personality, talk of this talented nine-year-old winning the big one is greeted with nothing but caution.

“It’s nice to be involved in the big races, and to have a horse with a serious National chance is extremely exciting,” said Hughes jnr, who has ridden out Point Barrow every day since he was broken in.

“But I’m not one for getting too carried away, because you only have to look at Mouse’s horse (War Of Attrition, who was ruled out of the Cheltenham Gold Cup by injury) to realise you can’t take anything for granted.

“I’ve been in this game long enough to know that a bad day is always round the corner – and that makes you appreciate the good ones even more.”

April 17, 2006, was certainly a good day for the Hughes family and anyone associated with their stable star.

Sent off at 20-1, Point Barrow pinged fences for fun en route to a flawless one-length verdict in the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.

“I was like a jack-in-a-box in the Irish National, but once I saw him coming, I knew he was going to win a mile out,” recalled Hughes, who in his formative days enjoyed a profitable spell working in England for Gordon Richards and Josh Gifford.

It did not go unnoticed by the Hughes camp that Numbersixvalverde took the Fairyhouse feature in 2005 before winning the Grand National 12 months down the line.

And for all Hughes’ vigilance, absorbing formlines with Martin Brassil’s charge temporarily encourage the 33-year-old to drop his guard.

“He’s beaten Numbersixvalverde every time he’s run against him and although I’m not saying that counts for anything at Liverpool, it does give you confidence.

“He’s probably one of the best horses I’ve sat on of my dad’s, but I’ve ridden some super horses in the past, with the likes of Addington Boy of Gordon Richards and Josh’s Deep Sensation and Brief Gale.”

Point Barrow has continued to progress since the Irish National, with his Pierse Chase victory under Timmy Murphy a clear advertisement of his dexterity and stamina.

A very creditable third to Homer Wells in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse subsequent to that, he enjoyed a perfect prep when running on strongly to take third over hurdles at Navan last time out.

“He’s not a difficult horse to train and has been in good old order since then,” said Hughes.

“This is is his time of year, too – he always seems to run well after Christmas, once he’s had a bit of turkey inside of him.

“He usually tells us when he’s ready, and I think he’s ready. His weight is OK, and although you’d maybe prefer a few pounds less, we’re in with the big boys now.”

Point Barrow is set to carry 10st 12lb in the Aintree marathon, but this, it would seem, is the last thing on the mind of the man who knows him best.

“It’s the greatest leveller in the world, this sport, and all we want to do is to get him to Liverpool fit and well – anything else will be a bonus,” he said.

Should that bonus incorporate winning the Grand National on April 14, it is safe to assume Tommy Hughes’ prudence will dissipate with the same vigour with which Point Barrow tackles his fences.

End