Dundee United director Jimmy Fyffe’s twin passions will be competing for his attention next week, when he has his first runner in the Randox Grand National the same afternoon his Scottish Premiership football team have a crucial match in their fight to stay up.
While his football club, who are bottom of the division, head to Motherwell, pub owner Fyffe, 54, will be in Liverpool where Hill Sixteen is due to line up in the world’s most famous horse race on April 15, a date he cannot miss.
“This is my first runner in the Grand National and I’ve always had an ambition of having a runner in the race - it’s been very difficult getting here,” he said.
“We’ve had ups and downs with trying to get this horse in the race, so it’s all systems go in two weeks’ time.
“Honestly, the whole of Dundee will be gripped watching this race! I’ve got all the family coming down for three nights for the whole festival and I’m hoping to have seven runners over the three days. One winner would do us!”
Hill Sixteen has had three starts this season and has twice jumped round the Grand National fences, finishing seventh and second in the Becher Chase.
Fyffe, who owns Hill Sixteen in partnership with another publican Scott Townshend, said: “If there’s a touch of ‘soft’ in the going and he’s at his best, he’s got to have a serious chance.
“We knew he would really need the run on his last start at Kelso. We’d got his wind done and he had another little niggle, but he got a good blow there and it’s all systems go now. He’s bucking and kicking and squealing and hopefully Sandy gets him spot on.”
Fyffe owns 30 horses but the Grand National has been a passion since he was young.
“I used to watch everything on the TV and I just love watching the race. I would record it and watch it again and again, it’s just such a fascinating race to watch and to think I’m actually going to have a runner is very special – and nerve-racking!”
Dundee United are in a battle to stay in the Premiership while arch rivals Dundee are in the hunt for promotion from the Championship.
Fyffe said: “We’re away at Motherwell on Grand National Day, so I will have it live on my phone and I’ll be watching. Hopefully we get a good result before the Grand National and if we win both I think the party would go on for at least a week!
“I don’t even want to think about the prospect of the play-offs. Facing off with Dundee would be one of the worst games I’d have to go to! I’d prefer the two clubs being up in the Premiership as it’s great for the city, so fingers crossed.”
