Top flat race jockey Michael Walker will consider riding over fences again after having his first jumps ride in the Grand National Hurdles at Riccarton yesterday.
In bizarre circumstances, Walker became a late replacement rider for Striking in the Grand National after a judicial inquiry into what horse
fellow top flat rider Chris Johnson should ride.
Johnson had been at the centre of a dispute by the connections of Striking and Dan Moran who both claimed he had been engaged for their horse.
A Judicial Control Authority panel ruled after the opening race that Johnson was engaged for Striking but soon after he sought a release to which the horse's connections agreed.
Johnson subsequently rode Dan Moran and it was thought top jumps jockey Isaac Lupton would ride Striking after indicating he would be available.
But Walker had previously told Striking's trainer, Jeff Lynds, that he would be available and he was snapped up.
Walker said he enjoyed the experience and if the ride on Striking became available for the Great Northern Hurdles at Ellerslie on September 29 he might accept it.
"I don't know but if I was asked I might," Walker said.
Walker could not believe how calm he was in the starting stalls.
"I thought I would be nervous when I got into the starting stalls because you can see the first fence from there. But I was as calm as anything."
Walker, a former apprentice at the Taranaki stable of Allan Sharrock, said he had ridden many jumpers in training. "I've had heaps. I was doing it when I was 11 with Allan."
- NZPA
