Published: Wednesday, 24th February, 2010 5:01pm

Carberry nominated for another award

Aintree Legends nominees at last week's launch (from left) were: back - Jenny Pitman, Ginger McCain and Sir Peter O'Sullivan; front - Tommy Carberry and John Buckingham.

Tommy Carberry has been included as one of the 10 nominees who are in contention to be inducted into the inaugural John Smith's Aintree Grand National Legends.

Carberry was a popular recipient of the Meath Chronicle / Cusack Hotels Hall of Fame accolade at the third annual Sports Personality-of-the-Year awards last month at Knightsbrook Hotel where he recalled that famous victory back in 1975.

The Meath man enjoyed a long career in the saddle from the time he was crowned champion apprentice in 1959 until he hung up the whip and helmet in 1982.

When he retired from race-riding, he turned his hand to training and two of his notable successes were recorded at his home track, Fairyhouse and at Liverpool.

With his son Paul on board, he won the 1998 Irish Grand National with BobbyJo and 12 months later ended a 24-year barren spell without an Irish victory when father and son teamed-up to win at Aintree with BobbyJo.

That 1999 Aintree victory was a great occasion, made all the more memorable by the fact that there was the magic link between the two victories 24 years apart - Tommy Carberry, jockey and trainer.

This new initiative, launched last week, celebrates the greats from Aintree Grand National history and the five Legends selected in 2010 will be invited to the first awards ceremony at Aintree racecourse on Saturday, 10th April.

Carberry partnered L'Escargot to victory over Red Rum in 1975 completing a remarkable treble for a horse that had already won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1970 and 1971. Carberry became one of an elite group of men who have successfully ridden and trained Grand National winners.

"The John Smith's Grand National is a race steeped in history and has produced many stories and legends down the years.

"We want to give people the chance to reflect and celebrate this, and vote for who they think should be further immortalised in Aintree history," commented Aintree managing director Julian Thick.

The short-list was compiled by a panel of racing experts who were asked to consider the star performers - equine and human - from the 1830s through to the present day. They are: Tommy Carberry, Jenny Pitman, Vincent O'Brien, Fred Rimell, Fred Winter, Sir Peter O'Sullivan, Bob Champion and Aldaniti, John Buckingham and Foinavon, Donald 'Ginger' McCain and Red Rum.

A website has been developed to allow the public to choose the identity of the first five Legends - www.grandnationallegends.com and Meath Chronicle readers may vote until Monday, 22nd March. All voters will automatically be entered into a draw for a VIP trip to the Grand National and the chance to meet some of the Grand National Legends.