Grand National: Sculptor with the inside track on Red Rum

Philip Blacker is selling replica models ahead of the 40th anniversary of Red Rum's third National - 2007 AFP
Philip Blacker is selling replica models ahead of the 40th anniversary of Red Rum's third National - 2007 AFP

When Philip Blacker, the former jockey who placed in three Grand Nationals, was beginning an artistic career in which he has sculpted some of the best horses of the past three decades in bronze, his first life-size commission came from Aintree. His Red Rum statue now overlooks the paddock there and, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Rummy’s third National, Blacker has produced a limited edition of miniature replicas.

No artist was better placed to sculpt the National treasure than Blacker, who had, on several occasions, a good view of his backside disappearing into the distance. He was fourth behind him on Spanish Steps in 1973 and seventh in 1977 on Happy Ranger.

“I remember going down to Becher’s second time upsides Brian Fletcher on Red Rum in 1973,” he said. “Crisp was a fence clear in front of us and I turned to Brian and said, ‘I don’t think he’s coming back!’ Brian, who was mono-syllabic at the best of times, just grunted and started to draw away from me. The rest is history.”

When he started working on Red Rum, Beryl McCain sent the by then elderly racehorse down to Blacker’s Oxfordshire studio for a couple of days. As she was leaving, she warned that Rummy was prone to set-fast (azoturia), whereby he would seize up during exercise.

The following morning, Blacker decided to lead the horse down the road to stretch his legs. Half a mile from home, Red Rum stopped dead and started sweating profusely (common symptoms of set-fast).

“I thought he was going to keel over in the ditch and I could see the headlines: ‘Sculptor kills Red Rum’,” recalled Blacker. “Luckily, he recovered, but when he went home the following day I’d never been so pleased to see a horse go.”

Red Rum with trainer Ginger McCain - Credit: Action Images
Red Rum with trainer Ginger McCain Credit: Action Images

The National played a big part in Blacker’s riding career. At the Elbow, on Royal Mail in 1981, he looked like putting a spoke in Aldaniti’s works, before finishing third, and in the belief that Royal Mail would come back and win the next year, he prolonged his career by a season.

Royal Mail was favourite. On the Thursday, Blacker went up to Liverpool to ride the favourite in the Topham for John Edwards, and the next day he was booked for five of Edwards’s at Ludlow, but Stan Mellor, Royal Mail’s trainer, suggested he take the Friday off and the jockey was inclined to agree with him. The horse in the Topham ran a stinker, finishing last, but Edwards accused Blacker of looking after himself ahead of the National.

“If I’d have taken Friday off, it would, in John’s mind at least, have proved the point,” said Blacker. “So, I went to Ludlow, and when I had jumped the second last on the fifth ride I remember thanking God I’d made it. But it fell at the last and I woke up in the ambulance room. Charlie Mann was leaning over me saying, ‘Aren’t you meant to be riding the favourite in the National? Not any more.’”

Royal Mail, ridden by Bob Davies, fell at Becher’s and Blacker called it a day soon after. He remains passionate about the race and he will be selling his little limited editions of Red Rum for £395, from Stable 46 at Aintree over the three-day meeting.

James stays the course 

Last week, 11-year-old James Clarkson raised £11,200 and counting for the Injured Jockeys Fund, after running round all 34 jump courses in England, with his father, Ed, driving him between each one. He ran 50 miles in five days, jumped round Cheltenham better than Cue Card, and his father, a big cheese in West Country property, put 1,733 miles on the Knight Frank company car.

It all came about when James was set a project to get pupils at his Tiverton prep school, Blundell’s, to raise money for charity. It required him to contact each racecourse and organise the trip.

The Clarkson household had thought that by the time they had tapped up aunts, uncles and grandparents, he might scrape up to £500, but money continues to pour into his JustGiving (racecourse run) account. James is unfazed by his new-found fame, but has downgraded his father’s position from partner in a nationwide estate agent to chauffeur.