Micko's Dream will have some precautionary X-rays on a possible stomach injury following the gelding's fall at the first fence in the Martell Grand National at Aintree yesterday. The Willie Mullins-trained 8-year-old was taken to the Leahurst Veterinary College for treatment after the incident.
"Another horse landed on him after the fall and he may have been very bruised in the stomach area," Mullins said today. "He also seemed a bit lame on his off-hind but he did gallop the full 4 1/2 miles after that. The owners are staying nearby and I have just spoken to one of them and he said the horse is very comfortable. The vets think he'll be OK but he may have an abdominal injury so they are going to take some precautionary X-rays. The horse will probably stay there for a couple of days."
The race was won by Papillon, trained by Ted Walsh and ridden by his son Ruby, and received a hero's welcome when he returned home to Kill in Co Kildare today. It's estimated that his win cost Irish bookmakers almost £2 million.
