Oliver Sherwood already has one eye on next year’s Crabbie’s Grand National for Many Clouds after reporting the Aintree hero in “fantastic” form the morning after his momentous triumph on Merseyside.
The Hennessy Gold Cup winner left connections perplexed when failing to run up to expectations in last month’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, but bounced back to form in brilliant style to land the world’s most famous steeplechase in the hands of Leighton Aspell.
Sherwood spent the night celebrating in Liverpool, but arrived back at his Lambourn base earlier this morning and is thrilled with how his pride and joy has recovered from his exertions.
Sherwood said: “Many Clouds is absolutely A1. We stayed up (in Liverpool) last night but my staff said he was fantastic and that he’d eaten up and had a buck and a kick. He’s handled most of the two-legged people in the yard!
“He’ll probably stay here for a couple of weeks and will probably go to Sandown on the last day of the season for a parade there.
“He’ll then go back to Trevor Hemmings’ stud for his holiday, where he goes every season, before he comes back here in August.”
The trainer confirmed a return to Aintree in a year’s time is likely to be top of his agenda for next season.
He said: “I think he’s a Gold Cup horse that’s won a National.
“He can only carry a pound more next year and we’ll probably train him for the National, as opposed to the Gold Cup.”