Ruby Walsh: Any Second Now capable of emulating Papillon for father Ted

Walsh still rates winning the Aintree Grand National for his Dad in 2000 as his greatest day in horse racing

Any Second Now and Derek O'COnnor with Ted & Helen Walsh after winning the Fluke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Steeplechase at Cheltenham in 2019. Photo: Healy Racing

Given the opportunity to reprise his role as a Randox Health Aintree Grand National participant for this year’s showpiece on April 10, Ruby Walsh would have no hesitation in siding with Any Second Now, trained by his father, Ted.

While the nine-year-old has a positive profile in the context of the National and has had this race on his radar for some time, it is the potential to replicate that feeling which he and his family experienced with Papillon in 2000 which has Walsh in no doubt of which choice he would make.