The Grand National hero, Papillon, arrived home yesterday with a few scrapes from Aintree's famous birch but otherwise in great shape - and he may not be finished for the season just yet.
Just the eighth Irish-trained winner of the world's most famous race, Papillon will miss the Irish equivalent in a fortnight but could make a crowd-pulling appearance in the Heineken Gold Cup at the Punchestown Festival in 23 days time instead.
Papillon arrived back at Ted Walsh's stables from Liverpool at 8 a.m. yesterday, was followed back by Walsh himself at 11.30 a.m. and then it seemed both were descended upon by a media horde.
Walsh was in ebullient form, familiar to his many television fans and along with his son, 20year-old winning rider Ruby, fielded a torrent of questions. Papillon may have given the family their most memorable racing moment but Walsh Snr hasn't donned rose-tinted glasses about the big horse yet.
'Going into it the vibes were right and the ground was a major factor. If it had been soft, though, the monkey in him would have come out,' he declared, before grinning: 'But whatever happens now, he's won the National.'
Many thousands of punters throughout Britain and Ireland shared some of Walsh's joy after Papillon's odds dropped like a stone on Saturday from 33 to 1 to 10 to 1 second favourite.
A figure of £10 million was loosely bandied around yesterday as what Papillon's victory had cost bookmakers and while such statements have to be treated with caution, one bookmaker spokesman got it right when he said: 'It was a snowball effect. Everyone just jumped on the bandwagon.'
Ruby played down any impact such a big race winner will have on his life but his father said: 'It's going to be so great for Ruby's career, a winner like this on the big stage. I'm proud I trained a National winner but I'm more proud of him.'
For the second year running, the Grand National story was a family story. Bobbyjo last year was won by a father-son combination with another family member leading the horse up and it's the same in the year 2000.
Walsh's 15-year-old daugher Katie led Papillon up and accompanied the horse on his ferry ride home from Liverpool. Papillon's owner Betty Moran confessed to feeling tired after celebrating her success but added: 'Katie stayed with the horse all the time. She should be the one who's tired!'
Walsh said Aintree will be Papillon's target again next year but didn't rule out a Punchestown appearance next month.
'If the ground is quick there, which wouldn't suit Rince Rí, and Florida Pearl doesn't run, then I might run him in the Heineken. See More Business won't come, neither will Looks Like Trouble and you could end up with a moderate £120,000 race,' he argued.
After picking up Stg£217,450 for winning on Saturday, Papillon's spring bonanza may not yet be over, but the big one is already in the bag.
