Llewellyn reflects on Summit's National win

Given the amount of potential pitfalls, receiving a smooth run in the Grand National is a relative rarity and is one Carl Llewellyn enjoyed 20 years ago aboard Earth Summit.

Having steered Party Politics to glory in the great race in 1992, the now-retired rider saw his name join a list of those fortunate enough to win the Aintree marathon twice when repeating the trick six years later on the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained gelding.

With his love for a stamina test proven following wins in the Scottish and Welsh Nationals, his chances of adding victory on Merseyside received a boost when prayers for rain-softened ground were answered.

Llewellyn said: "The night before we were out in Liverpool and as we were walking back it was pouring with rain and the more it rained, the more chance he had as he handled that ground so well.

"We were worried about it being on with the forecast and we heard mumblings of it possibly being cancelled.

"Plenty of horses running in it hated it, so we got got lucky with that. The preparation went well and we were very happy with the horse and we were just hoping for a nice round."

Having hunted around in the middle of the pack during the early stages, Llewellyn gradually worked the 7-1 favourite into it before going on over four out in company with the previous year's Hennessy winner Suny Bay.

Pulling clear of those still standing, the two were virtually stride for stride until the last, when Earth Summit, who was receiving more than a stone in weight from the grey, forged on before pulling clear rounding the elbow and claiming victory by 11 lengths.

Llewellyn said: "At the start he could be a bit funny trying to plant himself and that was the first anxious moment, but he jumped off.

"I purposely went out wide, as I wanted to keep out the way of the other horses and the ground was fresher there. I didn't want to be around other horses, as he could curl up under you.

"The race went very smoothly. He travelled very well. He got distracted at one fence, I think it was one of the ditches he got in close to, but he was very clever.

"Apart from that, he never touched a twig and never gave me a nervous moment. The further he went, the more the opposition went away. He got there travelling as good as you can in a National. The only thing that could get him beat was me and luckily I didn't do that.

"Suny Bay ran a hell of a race in second and I don't think he gets the credit he deserves. I thought Graham Bradley gave him a fantastic ride."

He added: "The first time I won it, I didn't take it all in and it was a bit of a blur and I couldn't really believe it had happened. I enjoyed the second win as I felt as confident as you can be with the ground and the horse.

"It was the best walk-in in the world into the unsaddling enclosure and it was fantastic doing it again. You want it to go on forever, as all the crowd get behind you.

"I had Mark Dwyer's retirement party at York racecourse that night. I had bought a ticket for that so I didn't want to waste it. It was great, as all the northern and southern lads were there

"I got up early the next morning to drive back to see the horse. As you would expect it was a popular turnout, as he had a lot of supporters. It was a great time."

Llewellyn, who is now assistant trainer to Twiston-Davies, could be associated with a third winner as Blaklion is among the leading ante-post contenders for this year's renewal.

He said: "Blaklion has had a wind operation since his last run, which will hopefully help. He hit the front too soon in last year's race and he won't be hitting it as early this year.

"Hopefully the ground will dry up a little bit. He has been trained for the race and has got a great chance."