Ted Walsh pays tribute to 'great horse' Any Second Now as retirement confirmed
Ted Walsh paid tribute to Any Second Now after watching his veteran finish second in the Irish Grand National once again on Easter Monday.
The JP McManus-owned gelding ran another cracker at Fairyhouse, 12 months after finishing runner-up to Intense Raffles, as he chased home Haiti Couleurs in the 3m5f contest under Mark Walsh.
The trainer confirmed after the race that it was the last run of the 13-year-old's incredible career.
He told ITV: "Great horse. He's nine seasons there with us and since he won his first race at Navan, won a Moscow Flyer over two miles, won several races over two, won a Bobbyjo over three, won a Webster Cup over two and a half, second and third in two English Nationals, second in two Irish Nationals so what more could you get?
"Other than winning, you couldn't get a better result. A better horse beat him on the day and a better horse beat him last year and that's all you can do!
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"That's definitely the last time (he runs). I'm delighted he's going out sound. I'd have been happy today once he pulled up and ran a good race.
"A win would have been real fairytale stuff, but he definitely won't run again and he'll enjoy himself."
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