I left for Aintree on the Friday morning at 3am. It was a long drive so a good early start was needed! Once again a huge thank-you to my employer Demelza Barnes for letting me have more time off work to compete in the race. Me and Melza were joking on the Thursday ride out about falling off at the start, but she was very helpful.

The drive to Liverpool was a long one, but I guess I was very relaxed and was very focused too on the event. We arrived at the hotel, around 9.30am and we met the other riders from the race. They all seemed a bit nervous and edgy. We were all invited to have a day at Aintree on Ladies’ Day, to watch the racing and see if we could pick up any last minute tips!

After a day at Aintree we headed back to the hotel. It had been a long day but the hard work hasn’t stopped. The hotel had a gym so it was off for a good session in there, an hour on the rowing machine and then a good 25 lengths in the swimming pool and then a good hour in the sauna to loose a few pounds, always good to be a bit lighter than too heavy!

An early night ensured a good head for a early start on the Saturday morning. There was plenty to do before the race. A walk of the race course at 9.30am ensured we knew the way we are going. There’s plenty of interviews to be done but I was lucky I had none to do so it was off to the weighing room to put my riding boots on and to collect my partner Emma and my dad to walk the Grand National course. I had walked the course but my partner and dad hadn’t so it was a nice treat for them. But time was ticking, and it was time for me to get to the weighing room. I sat next too the champion jockey AO McCoy who was very keen to pass me on advice and offered me equipment too for the race, I weighed out for the race in the owners’ colours, Lord Peter Dearsbury. After passing the saddle out to the connections I go back and have 20 minutes to relax so it’s time to make sure everything’s OK. I watch the last day’s racing on the TV and just chill and see what all the top jockeys do in preparation for their races ahead on the day.

All of the 10 jockeys went in to the parade ring for a team photo and we all headed for our connections. We got our orders and were legged up and left the parade ring in race card order. I was still calm and relaxed - the same as my replacement horse, Napalm! I was meant to ride Richard Rowes’ horse, Uncle Eli, but due to it suffering an unfortunate injury I had to have a replacement horse found for. Uncle Eli would have ran a great race and I personally think in my own mind he would have won the race for me and Richard. Napalm was very slowly away and never got into the race. I am hard at work pushing him well before we head into the home straight, when you have your head down and can see the lead horse pulling further and further away and the winning line getting closer, your heart just sinks knowing that all your hard work has been ruined there is no way of changing it.

I pull up after the race and there’s only one expression and that’s disappointment. I came into the competition thinking I had a great chance of winning this and then suddenly it’s all over at the blink of an eye, I take my saddle off and thank Mr Easterby’s assistant for the ride. I walk away down the race course thinking what could of been, I have people leaning across the rails saying well done, great ride, chin up, but words cant help you. I’m not sure what the words would be but it was the worst feeling I’ll ever experience.