THE oldest living jockey to have ridden in the Grand National told of his disappointment today at being forced to miss tomorrow's big race.

Tommy Elder, 93, from Easingwold, does not have a car and found all the coach parties to Aintree fully booked up before he could confirm a place for the big meeting.

"I'm very disappointed," he said.

"I've missed very few of the Nationals and would still love to go. I have fond memories of riding at Aintree and I managed to finish second twice in the early thirties."

Tommy, who turned to breeding racehorses after having ridden 400 winners in a 14-year career, took part in five Grand Nationals.

He said: "I recall one year at Aintree, in what was my first National ride, I jumped the fence - instead of the horse!"

The pensioner, who was a close friend of Lester Piggott's father, Keith, was famously nicknamed Little Tommy by the Queen Mother.

"I recall the day at Ascot, I lined up with the other jockeys when she was present.

"I said 'well done, Ma'am' and she said, 'I know that voice. Don't tell me - it's Little Tommy!'

"The Queen Mum was a great sport - a proper racing mother."

Tommy, who had a riding weight of six stone 14 pounds, remembers the day the jockeys threatened strike action at Aintree, after course owner Lady Topham threatened to make them pay for car parking on the course.

"We'd have none of it and told her so," he said, "We were prepared to strike. And we told her there would be no Grand National - it made Lady Topham change her mind.

"I've had a wonderful time in the racing world. It's just such a pity that I'll not be at Aintree this year."

Updated: 11:35 Friday, April 04, 2003