PRIDE of place among the Northern-bred horses in the past week has to go to Goonyella who won the Betfred Midlands Grand National (Listed) at Uttoxeter last Saturday in the colours of Ann and Alan Potts.

The eight-year-old Presenting gelding was bred by Dromore veterinary surgeon Caroline Berry and her event rider daughter Susie who is currently based in England with leading producer and regular Northern visitor Piggy French.

Caroline watched the race at home on television and, while she was very pleased to see the horse win, she was also delighted for his jockey Johnny Burke as she explained: “When Susie competes at the international event in Camphire, we always stay with the Burkes who are just the nicest family.

“At the time Goonyella was weaned he kept jumping back into his mother (Miss Fresher, by Pampabird) so he started developing his jump at a very young age! I was delighted when I heard he was going to Jim Dreaper as I knew he would be in good hands.”

Jim is also training Goonyella’s six-year-old full-brother, Shake It Up, on behalf of the Potts and he was second in a maiden hurdle at Limerick on Saturday.

At Tattersalls’ foal sale in November, the trainer bought their three-parts sister so he is obviously taken with the family.

When Goonyella won his third point-to-point in the hands of Jamie Flynn at Loughamore in December 2012, Dreaper predicted that his charge would win a National. He wasn’t specific about which one or when but now that the horse has claimed one such race hopefully he can add to his laurels in other Nationals.