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A couple of bronzes up for sale in our January 31 Fine Antique auction have rather a charming tale behind them. Both depicting horses with jockeys at full pelt, they are the work of Philip Blacker (b.1949). Not only is he a former jockey, but riding Spanish Steps he also came fourth to Red Rum in the 1973 Grand National, the first of the legendary horse’s three wins at Aintree in the world’s greatest Steeplechase, and seventh on Happy Ranger in 1977, when Red Rum won his third and final National.

Blacker’s links to Red Rum go much further though, because it was to him that the authorities at Aintree went when they wanted to mark the 40th anniversary of that record-breaking third win last year. Blacker created a miniature limited edition (400) replica. Much earlier he had been commissioned to make a life-size bronze of Red Rum, which gave him the chance to get to know the horse better, and he also went on to design a new trophy for the Grand National at the sponsors’ request. The 40th anniversary limited edition was an exact miniature of the earlier statue.

Describing Red Rum as “charismatic”, Blacker remembers that most of the time all he ever got to see going round the racecourse was the great horse’s backside as he shot ahead. Happy racing days indeed.