Disappointment For Once-A-Year Punters As Lester Piggott Missing From Grand National Line Up Again
2018-04-14
There was disappointment for once-a-year punters this morning as it emerged that Lester Piggott will not be riding in today’s Aintree Grand National for the 171st year in succession. His absence has been put down to the fact that he was a flat jockey, retired in 1985 and is now 82 years of age.
None of this did anything to placate Ted Bovis, 87 from Rawmarsh who was typical of once-a-year punters we spoke to this week. Ted says he knows nothing about horse racing but always has a bet on the National. “I always try to have a bet on Lester Piggott” he told us. “He’s a very good jockey you know, but I’ve never quite managed it. They look at me like I’ve got two heads in the bookies but I think they’re just frightened I’ll clean them out. Anyway, I suppose I’ll end up putting my quid on whatever Willie Carson’s riding again this year.”
A spokesperson for William Hills confirmed that Ted was just one of a number of annual punters keen to put their money on Piggott. “Thats nothing he told us, at least he’s still alive We’ve just taken a fiver off one bloke on Red Rum at 500-1 just to get rid of him.”
