Tommy Carberry nominated as Aintree legend

Ratoath's Tommy Carberry is one of the ten nominees in the inaugural John Smith's Grand National Legends to be run in conjunction with this year's Aintree Grand National. This new initiative celebrates the greats from Grand National history and the five legends selected will be invited to the first awards ceremony at Aintree racecourse on Grand National Day - Saturday 10th April. In 1975, Tommy Carberry, recent winner of the Hall of Fame award at the Meath Chronicle Sportsttar awards, rode L'Escargot to victory over Red Rum, completing a remarkable double for a horse that had already won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1970 and 1971. Later in his career Carberry became one of an elite group of men who have successfully ridden and trained Grand National winners when his son, Paul Carberry, rode Bobbyjo to victory - becoming the first Irish trained winner of the race since L'Escargot 24 years earlier. Bobbyjo had won the Irish Grand National a year previously and jumped beautifully to win by 10 lengths and create another great Grand National story. The shortlist was compiled by a selection panel of racing experts who were asked to consider the star performers - equine and human - from the 1830s through to the present day. A website has been developed to allow the public to choose the identity of the first five Legends which is now live and open for voting - www.grandnationallegends.com. The contenders are as follows: Ginger McCain and Red Rum; Sir Peter O'Sullevan; Jenny Pitman; Fred Rimell; Vincent O'Brien; Fred Winter; John Buckingham and Foinavon; Manifesto; Bob Champion and Aldaniti; Tommy Carberry. Aintree and John Smith's want to know the 'People's Legends' too. Do you have a story about how the people of Liverpool get involved with the race or does your pub landlord hosts a fantastic Grand National party each year? The best five nominations will be invited to Aintree on Liverpool Day, Thursday 8th April for a presentation ceremony as they become part of the original John Smith's Grand National People's Legends. Voting closes on March 22nd and everyone placing their vote 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 on Saturday 10th April.