A HEREFORDSHIRE man will be in charge of one of the world's biggest sporting events, the John Smith's Grand National.

Julian Thick is overseeing the three-day meeting at Aintree Racecourse, which opens today (Thursday).

The world-famous Grand National takes place on Saturday and will be watched by an estimated worldwide audience of 600 million.

It is the first time that Thick, from Ledbury, will be in charge of the steeplechase which he describes as the shop window of horse racing'.

Thick said: "The Grand National will be a truly memorable event and I am relishing the challenge of being at the helm of Aintree at this hugely exciting time.

"Nothing compares to the thrill and atmosphere of this race meeting and, during Liverpool's year as European Capital of Culture, it is set to be bigger than ever."

"The event is not just one of the world's sporting highlights, it is also a key date in the social calendar in the North West, which really is not to be missed."

Thick, 37, became the managing director of Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool last May.

He has previously been managing director at both Kempton Park and Sandown Park racecourses.

Thick graduated with a joint honours degree in geography and politics from Birmingham University and, in 2003, gained his MBA at Henley Management College.

He is a former pupil at Ledbury Junior School and John Masefield High School.

"I have always had an interest in horses and my dad and his brother were involved in point to point, and owned a few horses," he said.

A domestic audience of 7.6 million people saw the live broadcast of the Grand National on BBC 1 last year.

Saturday's Grand National is the 161st running of the event which has a £800,000 total prize fund and will get underway at 4.15pm.

Thick added: "My family and I come back to Herefordshire a lot. I have three children and they love the countryside, so returning to the county is a bit like taking a holiday."