Ruby and Katie Walsh relive Papillon’s incredible Grand National success – and reckon Any Second Now can win this year

Katie said: “It’s a race which has been very lucky to us as a family over the years and we have had some great days. 

“I can remember Ruby riding Papillon so clearly. It’s over 20 years ago and I was 15 at the time, but it’s like it was yesterday. 

“I travelled over with the horse and looked after him while he was in England. 

“When Ruby and I were kids we used to ride ponies and pretend we were jumping Becher’s and the Canal Turn.

“All of a sudden there we were as a family watching Ruby ride Papillon for dad to win the race - it was an unbelievable and emotional day.”

And it was extra special for Ruby, who had never ridden in the race before.

He would go on to enjoy a legendary career as the stable jockey to Paul Nicholls and Willie Mullins.

But Papillon’s National is a win he cherishes above all others.

He said: “You dream about riding in the race, you never dream about winning it because it is such a lottery.

“I still think my greatest day in racing was winning the Grand National for my dad, and if there was any race I could go back and ride again it would be that.

“Papillon was number 13 when he won, and that day changed my opinion of 13 being an unlucky number!

“I can remember coming round the Elbow in front. It’s only 20 or 30 yards from going past the water jump to the winning line. 

“But believe me, it felt like 10 minutes. Even though we were winning, I thought Papillon was never going to get there.

“It was an amazing day and I spotted Dad coming back in. He’d ridden in the National but never got beyond Becher’s. I knew what it meant to the family.”