National victory was Treadwell’s boyhood dream fulfilled

Keith Hamer
June 23, 2020 6:30 pm

Jockey’s lifelong love of jump racing crowned at Aintree.

To Liam Treadwell, the world of horse racing was second nature.

It was obvious to those close to him that he would become a jockey.

Treadwell was born in West Sussex, where his parents worked for the great Arundel trainer John Dunlop for many years.

He loved the sport from a very young age, but it was not the Flat that really inspired him. He loved jump racing more – and one race in particular, the Grand National.

Mon Mome and Liam Treadwell (left) clear Becher's at Aintree — Mon Mome and Liam Treadwell (left) clear Becher’s at Aintree (Anna Gowthorpe/PA)

The lure of the world’s greatest steeplechase was to be a magnet right from his early days, and it got stronger as the years went by.

It was no coincidence that the first stable he rode out when he was still at school was at The Downs in Findon, where Aldaniti was nurtured back to full fitness, along with jockey Bob Champion, to win one of the most famous editions of the great race for trainer Josh Gifford in 1981.

At that time, Treadwell was too light to be a jump jockey so went to a big Flat yard in the area, that of Amanda Perrett, whose father Guy Harwood had trained the brilliant Dancing Brave.

Treadwell left the family home to work at Pulborough, and his parents bought him an Equicizer. He recalled he used to ride it in his bedroom and imagine he was riding the finish of the Grand National.

He had his first rides in 2002 at the age of 16 and then tried his hand in the north with sprint king Dandy Nicholls at Thirsk, before returning south and concentrating on becoming a jump jockey.

His first winners under that code came in the 2005-06 season, and he started to make his mark mainly with Hereford trainer Venetia Williams.

“He was a really nice guy and a lovely rider” – @mickfitzg
We are extremely sad to learn that Liam Treadwell has passed away aged 34. Our condolences to all his family and friends… pic.twitter.com/tokwJkCE1O
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 23, 2020

His first big success came on the 13-year-old veteran Bleu Superbe in the Listed Byrne Group Handicap at Ascot in November 2008 when he had stablemate Stan, ridden by Aidan Coleman, back in second place.

Stan and Coleman were the ones that would go on to see Treadwell get his dream ride on Mon Mome in that season’s Grand National.

Coleman, who had first call on the Williams’ runners, chose Stan. They only got as far as the seventh fence.

Treadwell, on the other hand, was able to fulfil his boyhood ambition – and what a story it was too.

He had only recently lost his claim and was of the youngest jockeys to win the National. The fact that Mon Mome was 100-1 and Williams was only the second woman to train the winner made it even more newsworthy.

He was one of those jockeys who was in his element over the Grand National fences – when third on 40-1 shot Monbeg Dude in the 2015 National and as winner of the Grand Sefton later that year on Bennys Mist. He also rode a winner at the Cheltenham Festival, Carrickboy in 2013.

Venetia Williams trained many of Liam Treadwell's winners, including Mon Mome — Venetia Williams trained many of Liam Treadwell’s winners, including Mon Mome (David Davies/PA)

But life changed dramatically for ‘Tredders’, as he was known by his fellow jockeys, following a fall at Bangor in March 2016.

He was knocked unconscious when taking a tumble from Market Option.

He hoped to be back in time to ride Katenko in the Grand National the following month. But sadly for him, he was out for longer, and when he did return the winners proved harder than ever to come by.

Treadwell took the decision to retire from the saddle in February 2018 but regained his appetite for race-riding and returned in March 2019.

The avid Arsenal fan made a low-key comeback in a bumper at Taunton when he was just beaten on Czech Her Out for Michael Scudamore.

That was the closest he came to a winner that season, but he did have 10 last term when he was mixing riding with being assistant to Bridgnorth trainer Alastair Ralph.