When L'Escargot won the 1975 Grand National, the man in the saddle was the indefatigable Tommy Carberry.
Tommy was born at Garristow, Co. Durham, on September 16, 1941. He became apprenticed to Jimmy Lenahan on the Curragh - under his tutelage Tommy twice became champion apprentice jockey on the Flat.
He then moved to Dan Moore at Fairyhouse, with whom he remained throughout the rest of his career.
Dan Moore had himself been a jockey and, riding Royal Danieli, had been beaten a short head by the tiny full horse, Battleship. (To his dying day he maintained that he had actually won.)
No jockey had a more spectacular first victory over the sticks: Dan Moore booked the still-to-win apprentice to ride Tripacer in the 1962 Gloucester Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Willie Robinson had been the stable jockey, but had moved to join Fulke Walwyn in England. This left the path clear for the aspiring 20-year-old jockey, who seized his chance with both hands.
Tommy went on to become stable jockey (and son-in-law) to Dan Moore: he rode for 21 years and competed in fourteen Grand Nationals.
His first Grand National ride came on the then 13-year-old Mr What. He refused at the 11th.
Having ridden his first winner at the Cheltenham Festival, he incredibly rode his last one there too: he won the Arkle Chase on Brockshee trained by his brother-in-law, Arthur Moore, son of Dan. Cheltenham was a lucky course for Tommy: apart from winning the Gold Cup on L'Escargot, he also won the race in 1975 on Ten Up.
He also won the Irish Grand National twice, on Brown Lad and Tied Cottage.
Tommy retired from the saddle to become a trainer, setting up at his home near Ashbourne, Co Dublin. Here he had 55 acres on which to train the 17 horses in his care - he also had the nearby Fairyhouse racecourse. His wife, Pamela, helped out as did his children Thomas (who worked in bloodstock shipping), Paul & Philip (both jockeys), Mark (a carpenter) and Nina & Peterjon (both pony racers).
Tommy was back at Aintree in 1999 when sending out Bobbyjo to win the National.
