Grand National trainer cries and vows to ‘sleep with and marry’ his horse after win | Racing | Sport

Joe O’Shea bizarrely vowed to ‘marry and sleep with’ his winning horse after the Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Steeplechase on day one of the Grand National Festival. Barton Snow, priced at 7/4, made a late surge to claim victory ahead of Lets Go Champ and Take All. It marked O’Shea’s fourth triumph in the race and he was an emotional wreck afterwards.

Speaking on ITV Racing, he fought back tears as he said: “We don’t know how good he is. Every morning he does what you’ve just seen. He’s amazing. This is so fast. This would beat Artemis II to the Moon. They did it in 10 days, this [horse] would do it in nine.

“This is an unbelievable machine. I love this race. We were in the rag-and-bone business up in Salford. I sneaked in back in ’76 and put my ten-bob note on and I’ve loved the pace ever since.

“Absolutely adore the place. We used Cheltenham as preparation for today. I believe that puts me on par with the great W. A. Stephenson.

“Little Joe O’Shea, a little boy from Nantwich. To think I’m here with W. A. Stephenson, what a legend and I can’t wait to get a way out of this game now.

“I would die. I’m just recovering from quadruple heart bypass and I can’t take this any more.”

Asked what he was planning to do with Barton Snow next, O’Shea replied: “I don’t know. I’m going to sleep with him. I’m just going to marry him. He’s brilliant.”

Day one of the Grand National Festival provided no shortage of excitement, but there were also a couple of unfortunate twists.

“He’s going to miss the race,” announced Elliott. “We left the yard yesterday morning and rolled out and everything was sound, 100 per cent.

“He was a bit tight yesterday evening and he’s just not right this morning, he’s lame behind, so obviously horses come first and foremost.

“He’s at home. Very unfortunate for the owners, staff and everyone involved. He will be there for another day.”