LORD GYLLENE RETIRED Martell Grand National winner Lord Gyllene has run his last race, it was reported today. Injury has forced the retirement of the New Zealand-bred gelding, who has been seen out just twice since he ran away with the world`s most famous chase when it was staged on a Monday in 1997 due to a bomb scare. He has been off the course for two years and Martin Pipe has admitted defeat in his battle to get the 13-year-old ready for another tilt at the Aintree showpiece. 'Lord Gyllene is not up to full training,' the trainer told the Racing Post. 'His owner Sir Stanley Clarke and I agreed that retirement was the best thing and he will be given a lovely home.' At the time of his 25-length Grand National triumph Lord Gyllene was trained by Steve Brookshaw, who recalled: 'He gave me a tremendous boost. He was a wonderful horse. 'We fancied him quite a bit before the National but of course his win came after a terrible weekend when the race had to be postponed.' Lord Gyllene was ridden at Aintree by Tony Dobbin, who described him as 'the horse who made all my dreams come true'. The jockey said: 'When he won the National everyone was saying he would come back and win it again and again. It was just unfortunate he had injuries. 'He wasn`t an exceptional jumper at park courses but when he got to Aintree he took to it like a duck to water.' Lord Gyllene had been set to carry 9st 6lb in this year`s National, for which he was rated a 33-1 chance with William Hill. His absence leaves Papillon, successful last year, as the only past winner in the field for Aintree.
