As Ray slipped into his final hours, his final words to me were about my promising to get him something special, special. That word repeated was the last thing he said to me as his illness engulfed him.

I pretty much put the TV on and ignored it following the funeral. On Saturday 9th April, the Grand National was on TV and I heard the commentator talking to a trainer asking if the jockey had selected the best horse to ride. I do not know why this caught my attention, but it did. The trainer said the going was tough for his horses so he didn't know to which the commentator then added that it must have been 'special, special' to win the Irish national. The commentator paused after he repeated the word special - like me i think it's an unusual form of words and i knew i had to put a bet on the horse they had mentioned, rule the World. As I was placing my bet, I looked at the TV and Last Samari was on the screen, and i was compelled to put a forecast bet on too - I don't normally gamble so it was 345 each way on Rule the World and £1.50 reverse forecast. Needless to say, I won nearly £600 - thank you Ray x