Silver Birch returns to a hero’s welcome
The 29-year-old has just 30 inmates, “mostly pointers and young horses”, at his Trim, Co Meath base.
Said Elliott: “We thought he’d run a good race, but this is a dream come true. We only got the horse a year ago and sweetened him up in cross-country events and hunting.
“I knew if he jumped the last two on Saturday, we had it in the bag. This has been a great team effort. I felt he was better than ever going across. Everything went according to plan and I hope this will find me some nice horses and new owners.”
Elliott is a former top class amateur rider and enjoyed success when based with Martin Pipe. Prior to Saturday, he had trained just three winners in Britain, two at Perth and one at Newton Abbot.
“I never thought I would train the winner of the Grand National”, exclaimed Elliott. “I always felt there was more of a chance I would ride in it. I was jocked up in the race twice. The first time there was a problem with my licence and, on the second occasion Mr Pipe jocked me up, one of the other jockeys in the yard became available late in the day and he rode.”
Elliott is likely to be at Tramore tonight where he has a runner in one of the maiden hurdles.
Silver Birch meanwhile paraded at the Curragh yesterday. A parade around the winner’s enclosure at the Kildare track the day after the big race may as well be booked in advance such has become the dominance of Irish runners in the world’s greatest steeplechase, with six winners coming from Ireland in the last nine years.
Having travelled back from Liverpool overnight, the 10-year-old was whizzed over to the track and sauntered around the parade ring for a good 10 minutes.
Flags were waved with enthusiasm as lass Fiona Dowling led him around, accompanied by Gordon Elliott.
But there was no sign of his owner, 26-year-old Brian Walsh.
“He’s still in Liverpool – we haven’t seen him, but he’s coming home tonight,” reported Elliott, who is only three years Walsh’s senior.
“It was a great night. We went to the John Smith’s party and then on to some pub in Liverpool. I can’t remember the name of it – the memory was going by then!”
Elliott has no plans to run the winner again this season. “We were going to run in the La Touche Cup at Punchestown, but I would not forgive myself if anything happened so he won’t be running there.
“He’s absolutely fine, ate up last night and will have a good summer off. We will have a look at the National again next year.”
Meanwhile, Robbie Power, who gave the ten-year-old a brilliant drive at Aintree, was in action at Tramore yesterday.
Said Power: “We knew he was in great order. He jumped and travelled great and was full of running crossing the Melling Road. He winged the second last.
“Life does not get any better than this, I should think about retiring! I could see we were going best turning for home, what a bargain this horse is now.
“Gordon was worried I wouldn’t be able to lie up, but it meant I was out of trouble. I hope this will get me more rides and some rides in England.”
Paul Nicholls, about to be crowned champion trained in Britain for the second time, will have nightmares over this result. He trained Silver Birch to win the Welsh National at Chepstow and the Becher Chase at Aintree in 2005, but the horse was then bought out of his yard at Doncaster Sales for a paltry 20,000 guineas.
