GRAND National hero Lord Gyllene will be geared towards a repeat success in the Aintree spectacular next year after enjoying his comeback party yesterday.
The New Zealand-bred nine-year-old arrived back at Steve Brookshaw's yard on Monday night but made a special appearance in front of television cameras at the trainer's yard near Shrewsbury yesterday afternoon.
A placid individual by nature, Lord Gyllene thoroughly enjoyed soaking up his new found stardom when, ears pricked, he looked on as a number of well wishers patted him on the neck.
"He's walking around and very happy with himself," reported Brookshaw. "I would think that will be it for the season. He was entered for the Scottish National but that was only a contingency plan if anything went wrong."
Brookshaw admitted he was happy with the horse after Saturday's Aintree postponement, saying: "I got him back in his own box here on Saturday night and gave him a little canter on Sunday morning and he was fine in himself."
In the race itself the trainer admitted there was no tactical master plan. "I asked Tony Dobbin what he wanted to do and he said he wanted to be handy but he found himself in front and decided to let him bowl along.
"The horse had been point-to-pointing in his native New Zealand and they jump barbed wire out there so he knows how to jump!
"I thought that if he got over the first three we had a great chance of getting round and the trip was no problem as he's won over two and a half miles but stays four and a half miles.
"I haven't discussed it with Stan Clarke but he'll be aimed at next year's race as he's won on soft as well as good ground. He's rated 140 at the moment and we'll just have to see how the handicapper rates him after yesterday's race, added Brookshaw.
Millionaire owner Clarke was understandably still delighted. He said: "Lord Gyllene will parade at Uttoxeter on May 3rd but he will not run again this season. He's come out of the race fresh and sound but we don't want to go to the well one time too many.
Carol Jarrett, who has worked for Brookshaw for eight years, has looked after Lord Gyllene from the moment he walked into the yard and was responsible for leading him before and after his National triumph.
"He's always been so laid back since he arrived here and is a real gentleman", she said. "I'm absolutely overjoyed about him winning the race as I never dreamed it would happen to me leading in the winner of the National is beyond dreams.
"But the main thing is he's come back safe and sound and it didn't matter where he finished."
