Calendar An icon of a desk calendar. Cancel An icon of a circle with a diagonal line across. Caret An icon of a block arrow pointing to the right. Email An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of the Facebook "f" mark. Google An icon of the Google "G" mark. Linked In An icon of the Linked In "in" mark. Logout An icon representing logout. Profile An icon that resembles human head and shoulders. Telephone An icon of a traditional telephone receiver. Tick An icon of a tick mark. Is Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes. Is Not Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes with a diagonal line through it. Pause Icon A two-lined pause icon for stopping interactions. Quote Mark A opening quote mark. Quote Mark A closing quote mark. Arrow An icon of an arrow. Folder An icon of a paper folder. Breaking An icon of an exclamation mark on a circular background. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Caret An icon of a caret arrow. Clock An icon of a clock face. Close An icon of the an X shape. Close Icon An icon used to represent where to interact to collapse or dismiss a component Comment An icon of a speech bubble. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Ellipsis An icon of 3 horizontal dots. Envelope An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Home An icon of a house. Instagram An icon of the Instagram logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. Magnifying Glass An icon of a magnifying glass. Search Icon A magnifying glass icon that is used to represent the function of searching. Menu An icon of 3 horizontal lines. Hamburger Menu Icon An icon used to represent a collapsed menu. Next An icon of an arrow pointing to the right. Notice An explanation mark centred inside a circle. Previous An icon of an arrow pointing to the left. Rating An icon of a star. Tag An icon of a tag. Twitter An icon of the Twitter logo. Video Camera An icon of a video camera shape. Speech Bubble Icon A icon displaying a speech bubble WhatsApp An icon of the WhatsApp logo. Information An icon of an information logo. Plus A mathematical 'plus' symbol. Duration An icon indicating Time. Success Tick An icon of a green tick. Success Tick Timeout An icon of a greyed out success tick. Loading Spinner An icon of a loading spinner. Facebook Messenger An icon of the facebook messenger app logo. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Facebook Messenger An icon of the Twitter app logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. WhatsApp Messenger An icon of the Whatsapp messenger app logo. Email An icon of an mail envelope. Copy link A decentered black square over a white square.

Lucinda Russell would love to see a Corach Rambler Grand National cider beside the One for Arthur beer pump in her local pub

The Kinross-shire community has got behind trainer, Lucinda Russell, and another Grand National party will be in store if the favourite finishes first in Aintree's big race.

Trainer Lucinda Russell, with Corach Rambler. Image: PA.
Trainer Lucinda Russell, with Corach Rambler. Image: PA.

One for Arthur was honoured with a specially commissioned beer pump in trainer Lucinda Russell’s local pub.

And if Corach Rambler can make it a second Grand National triumph in six year years for the Kinross-shire stables, she’s hoping for a cider one to go alongside it.

Lucinda is touched by the support she gets from her community on weekends like this.

Before heading down to Aintree, where she will have the favourite in Saturday’s big race, she saw a reminder of that on the bar of the Thistle Hotel in Milnathort hotel.

“We went down for a drink in the pub the other day and the beer tap Tennent’s made when Arthur won is still there,” said Lucinda.

“It would be lovely if there was one to go beside it – a Corach Rambler cider, maybe!”

Shared pride

Lucinda and her Arlary Yard team, on target to set a new Scottish record for winners this season, have been a Perth and Kinross sporting success story to rival St Johnstone.

The shared glory and pride has made it all the more fulfilling.

She said: “I wasn’t ready to face all the media when Arthur arrived back at the stable so I phoned Vicki at the Grouse and Claret, saying ‘we need to have a party tomorrow’.

“So that’s what happened. The staff all went there for a big party.

“I remember driving back up the road. Scu (partner, Peter Scudamore) and I were saying: ‘What happens if nobody turns up? What if nobody has noticed or backed him?’

“You get yourself in such a small world. What if nobody in Milnathort knows?

“We came along at 10 o’clock and there were loads of people. It was emotional and made me cry. I didn’t appreciate how much support we had.

“Since then, it has just got even better.

“I think, generally, people are more into community now – trying to be kind to people.

“If people are interested in the yard, I love it. Absolutely love it. If we can give a little bit back to the community and give them something to follow, that is fantastic.”

Autographs and inspiration

She added: “Little girls come up to me at the races asking for my autograph, which I find very flattering.

“It’s just lovely. I see myself in them.

“If we can encourage them and get them interested then that is great.

“When I see the horses in the papers I’m very proud of what we have done. It’s certainly not for me. It’s for the horse and most of all for Lucinda Russell Racing and everyone who works here.”

That’s a lot of staff these days.

“We have 50 people who work here – quite a big operation.

“After Arthur, everyone became really close and that has continued.

“The standard has gone up and we have some really good people working for us.

“My senior staff have been the same for a long time and that gives us the confidence to know that what we’re doing is right.

Trainer, Lucinda Russell holding the Ultima Handicap Chase trophy, which was won by Corach Rambler at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival. Image: PA.

“I remember when Scu and I got together we talked about whether I was going down to Hereford or if he was coming up to Scotland.

“We made the decision to stay in Scotland.

“I think the climate up here is actually better for training horses. We have lots of fresh air – it doesn’t get that warm and muggy.

“Down south a lot of people are aware of racing and want to own a racehorse.

“Up here, it wasn’t really that popular but, after Arthur, it alerted people.

“Corach is owned by seven people. These guys are living the dream. Some have never had racehorses before. Some have had little shares in flat horses.

“Now, all of a sudden, they have the favourite for the National – a fabulous story.”

Conversation