TRAINER Eric McNamara and Olympic show jumping gold medal winner Nick Skelton caught up with each other in Aintree last Saturday.

Eric told us: “I have known Nick for 40 years and competed against him at one time. We often meet at Aintree for a drink.”

Nick was looking forward to seeing his son Dan put the seal on his first trainers’ championship but a certain W.P. Mullins appears to have spoiled that party.

Eric reported: “We were actually talking about it before the National. Nick said Willie would need to saddle the first three home to have any chance and I said: ‘That won’t happen’.

“Now it looks as if Willie will beat him again for a second year in a row. It’s unfortunate for Dan because he has passed out his mentor Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson in such a short space of time. “Talking to Nick, I got the impression they will have more quality horses coming into the yard in the future, so I think Dan will be champion one day.”