'I’m riding with a lot of confidence' - Donagh Meyler on his Aintree Grand National chances Irish Grand National-winning jockey, Donagh Meyler, spoke to BOYLE Sports who will also be riding Quai de Bourbon in the English Grand National this weekend at Aintree. He gave his thoughts on whether he thinks he can complete a Grand National double. Exclusive Grand National Offer for our audience - get €80 in FREE bets How are your preparations going for Aintree? There’s no rest for the wicked. I was back in Emmet’s on Tuesday morning for work. I was at Noel Meade’s on Wednesday, so it was a busy time. It’s great going to be riding at Aintree. You’re on Quai de Bourbon for Willie Mullins and Gigginstown in the Grand National. What are your hopes and your chances? Riding for the master Willie Mullins means you have a chance. I got a phone call last week from David Casey wondering whether I'd ride for Willie in the race. Quai de Bourbon finished third in the Irish National last year and he should stay the trip. I don’t know a whole lot about him, just his form. That reads okay and riding for Willie in an English National you must have a chance. I’ve ridden in two past Grand Nationals. Farouk D’Alane was pulled up and I fell on Measureofmydreams. Apart from Quai de Bourbon, if you had the choice, what other horse would you like to be on? You’ve got to look at I am Maximus. Grangeclare West has smart prospects too, he hasn't been doing a whole lot wrong. What would winning the English National mean as well? Can you imagine doing the double?! It would be crazy stuff. But you’ve got to believe! What's the thrill of Aintree like for you? It’s a magic race, a magic atmosphere, in a magic city. It definitely has a lot of things going for it. What would be a good result for you? To win would be wonderful, but we’re riding plenty of winners and hopefully we can keep doing that. A word about Emmet Mullins, do you think he’s appreciated enough? How highly do you rate him and what has he meant for your career? He’s certainly appreciated where I’m from. He does fly under the radar a little bit. Emmet’s CV speaks for itself. An Irish National and English National with Noble Yeats. What he has done for my CV is crazy, so it is. It wasn’t so long ago I was trying to reach 15 winners each summer to get a longer break. Now, for my career to be where it is now is all down to him. I would be lost without him. He’s a very special man. There’s something in the Mullins genes as Emmet is Willie Mullins’s nephew. Your strike rate is about 32% at the moment. Can you believe what's happening? I didn't even know that myself. It was a great few days; I got the bounce of the ball and a lot of things went my way. I’m riding with a lot of confidence and that is such a big thing in racing. We’re riding the crest of the wave and long may it continue. How much of a boost to your career do you think winning the Irish National could mean? Hopefully. That’d be the plan! Just to have your name etched in the markings is very, very special. How proud are you of what you've achieved this last weekend? I am very proud of myself. I set out this year with goals, and it could have gone either way. But it’s been a fantastic season. It’s all gone in the right direction. And hopefully we can stay driving forward now. What were those goals? At the start of the season, I said I'd like to ride 30 winners. When we got to that number, then 50 became the target and a realistic number. Winning the Irish Grand National was my 50th winner of the season in Ireland and England combined, 48 in Ireland and two in England at Kempton. It would be nice to get another two in Ireland to make it 50 in Ireland for the season. Would you ever consider moving over to England if the opportunity arose to ride more? Or are you pretty settled in Ireland? I am settled in Ireland. I have a great connection with Emmet and the owner Paul Byrne. That obviously be something that would be extremely hard to walk away from, the connection that we have and the winners that they provide me. Is your nickname really Tom Cruise? It is. I got it a couple of years ago. Somebody said I looked like him! I used to have long hair, and they stuck that name to me all right. A lot of the lads said I looked like him, I just said I had a big nose and my profile was like his! Danny Mullins also calls me Duck.
