Champagne homecoming for Grand National star

10:54am Monday 16th April 2007

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Proud Little Newcastle residents threw a champagne homecoming reception for the horse which narrowly missed out on winning Saturday's Grand National.

Mckelvey finished second to Silver Birch in Aintree's gruelling race by just three-quarters of a length.

Trainer Peter Bowen and his wife Karen were welcomed back by a delighted community, and McLelvey was paraded around the village green at Sunday's party.

Mrs Bowen said: "It was awesome, everyone in the community rallied round."

Mr Bowen said he was both delighted and gutted with the race. "It was so close. If he hadn't picked up an injury near the end of the run he might well have won.

"But it was great to see him going so well."

Eight year-old McKelvey picked up a slight tendon injury on the course, but is expected to make a full recovery, and has been given a well earned rest.

The horse has been trained primarily for the National, and Mr Bowen is confident that he will be 'spot on' again for next year.

Mr Bowen's other horse Ballycassidy unseated his rider at the famous canal turn, but McKelvey's jockey Tom Brien has described his first Grand National as the biggest thrill of his life.

"There are so many ups and downs in racing, that's the nature of the sport. It's what the National is all about, that's what makes it exciting," added Mr Bowen.

Another of his horses, Dunbrody Millar, won the Topham Chase on Friday, and his charges won a total of quarter of a million pounds in prize money over the three days.

Stable staff have been working from dawn to dusk to make sure the horses are in peak condition, and are now preparing for this weekend's Scottish National.

Mrs Bowen said: "We have brilliant staff who are very loyal, we could not be as successful as them."