Licensee to ride on Grand National day
A licensee who is used to creating the perfect atmosphere to enjoy horseracing is to ride on the biggest stage of them all.
Craig Brown, licensee at the Plough Inn at Ford in Cheltenham - The Publican's Racing Pub of the Year - is one of 10 novice riders selected to take part in the John Smith's People's Race.
The event offers members of the public the chance to ride in a nine-furlong charity flat race at Aintree on April 4.
Craig was one of 16 'apprentice riders' selected in January to go forward to the training stage of the competition where they were assigned a professional trainer before finding out if they made the cut to the final 10.
He said: "It has been a really tense time but getting through to Aintree means the absolute world to me.
"My partner Rebecca has been taking on my work in the pub so that I can get fitter and improve my riding.
"The thought of her and our daughter being able to watch me ride at Aintree on Grand National Day really spurred me on."
Each of the jockeys taking part in the race will collect £5,000 for their chosen charity with the winner collecting £50,000 for their cause.
Gareth Turner, senior brand manager at John Smith's brand owners Scottish & Newcastle UK, said: "The standard of all 16 riders who made it through training was exceptionally high and all of them have worked really hard over the last few months.
"The third BBC-televised John Smith's People's Race has all the makings of being the most exciting yet and, with over £100,000 being raised for national and local charities, we can be assured that the race will produce more than one winner on April 4."
