Martell Grand National hero Papillon may run again this season in the Heineken Gold Cup at Punchestown, trainer Ted Walsh revealed today.
And Walsh, greeting the gelding on his return to the trainer's Co. Kildare yard, confirmed the nine-year-old will be campaigned next season with the aim of a repeat at Aintree in 2001.
Speaking to a posse of television, radio and press reporters in his yard, Walsh outlined the immediate plans for Papillon.
'He was back here this morning at 9am and there's not a bother on the horse although he has a few old scrapes on his stifles,' Walsh said. 'The only fence where he made a mistake was the Chair, where he was a bit wrong at it.
'He is in the Irish Grand National on Easter Monday but if he did run again this season it would probably be at Punchestown instead.
'I have Rince Ri in the Heineken Gold Cup as well as Papillon but if the ground was quick Rince Ri wouldn't go there. He probably won't be running in the Irish Grand National either because I expect him to have top weight.
'I will have a look at Punchestown for Papillon because the Heineken is a £120,000 race that could cut up badly. The horses that ran in the Gold Cup like Looks Like Trouble and See More Business won't be coming over and Florida Pearl mightn't run.
'The key to Papillon is good ground, the faster the better really because it was only when it dried out that he ran a decent race over hurdles at Leopardstown that persuaded me he was coming back to himself and we might have a crack at Aintree.'
Walsh also spoke of his son Ruby who partnered Papillon to victory after an injury-plagued season.
He said: 'I was proud to have trained Papillon, but twice as proud to have my son Ruby in the saddle.
'He is only 20 and it will be a great lift to his career. He was up there on the big stage in Liverpool and he's done it now, as well as winning the bumper at Cheltenham when he was only an 18-year-old amateur, so things fall into place or they don't in this game.
'He had a tough time with injuries but that is behind him now. Full marks to Ruby for switching his whip hand after Papillon drifted across after the Elbow on the run-in.'
Papillon will attempt to become the first horse since Red Rum in 1974 to win successive Grand Nationals - as long as conditions are right for the horse.
Walsh added: 'Papillon will be aimed at the National next year as well, though if the ground were soft you could leave him at home because he wouldn't do a tap on it.'
Young Kenny could bid to recoup losses at Ayr on Saturday after his fall at the 10th fence in the National.
Peter Beaumont is eying another tilt at the Ladbrokes Casinos Scottish Grand National for the gelding, who shouldered 11st 10lb to victory in the race last year.
'If he's all right he could go to Ayr next Saturday or he could wait for Fairyhouse (Irish Grand National) on Easter Monday,' the Brandsby trainer said.
Brendan Powell, Young Kenny's rider, has recovered from the fall.
He said: 'I feel good - not a bother. Touch wood my ribs are OK.
'It was just one of those things.'
Beaumont was also responsible for Niki Dee, who finished third beaten 13lengths behind Papillon.
'He ran a cracking good race,' he said. 'I knew all along he would and he was worth a shilling.
'He was travelling well three out but just lacked the pace.'
The trainer has no immediate plans for Niki Dee.
He said: 'He's had a few hard races so I'll give him a few days and then see how he is before making any plans.
'I didn't put him in the Whitbread because I don't think he goes right-handed so well. It may be coincidence but he's disappointed at Ascot and Kempton.'
Mely Moss, the gallant one-and-a-quarter-length runner-up in Saturday's Aintree spectacular on his first outing for 11 months, also appears to have come out of his race well.
'It's too early to tell but he seems fine this morning,' the nine-year-old's trainer Charlie Egerton said.
'I was delighted but frustrated with his effort at Aintree _ he did nothing wrong.
'We haven't made any plans for him yet. We'll just take one race at a time.'
Addington Boy, who has run with distinction in the last two Martell Grand Nationals, will be aimed at the Aintree marathon once again next year.
Ferdy Murphy's 12-year-old, fourth behind Bobbyjo 12 months ago, finished a gallant fifth, around 20 lengths behind Papillon on Saturday.
'We were over the moon with him,' Murphy said. 'He's come back bucking and squealing. We've just turned him out now and he's so well we could run him again today.
'He will go back to Wexford then the plan is to run him at Kelso in February 2001 followed by another go for the Grand National,' Murphy added.
Micko's Dream will have some precautionary X-rays on a possible stomach injury following the gelding's fall at the first fence in the Martell Grand National at Aintree on Saturday.
The Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old was taken to the Leahurst Veterinary College for treatment after the incident.
Mullins said: 'The owners are staying nearby and I have just spoken to one of them and he said the horse is very comfortable.
'The vets think he'll be OK but he may have an abdominal injury so they are going to take some precautionary X-rays. The horse will probably stay there for a couple of days.'
