Monty's Pass Receives Warm Welcome At The Curragh Ireland's newest Grand National hero Monty's Pass was given a rapturous reception on his return home when he was paraded at the Curragh yesterday. Mary Mangan, wife of winning trainer Jimmy led the horse round, while her husband received a presentation of a bronze horse's head from Curragh committee chairman Michael Osborne to mark the occasion. 'There's not a mark on him and all he wants is a pick of grass,' Mrs Mangan said. 'We are delighted to bring him here on our way home to Conna, Co. Cork'. The 10-year-old was due back in Ireland in the early hours of Sunday morning but connections missed the 3am ferry from Hollyhead following an impromptu party in Liverpool on Saturday night. Instead, they boarded the 9am sailing to Dublin and stopped off on their way to County Cork at the Curragh, where the runaway National winner paraded after the second race. Winning jockey Barry Geraghty barely had an anxious moment in the big race as the pair cruised home by 12 lengths from Supreme Glory, and the in-form rider could be back on the horse this evening, according to Mrs Mangan. 'Barry is riding at Tramore but will come over and I may even let him ride the horse down the main street. I'd love to do it myself but I'm sure he will want to!' she added. The horse was escorted into the parade ring by his trainer and his veteran travelling head man, Mossy Hartnett. Next stop is their home town of Conna where the two local pubs, The Winner's Enclosure, owned by point-to-point enthusiast Kay Moroney, and The Fisherman's Rest, owned by Oliver and Frances Toomey, will be bursting at the seams, according to Hartnett. 'He's in great form. We didn't mind missing the ferry as we had a bit of a party in Liverpool,' Mangan said. 'There's only one National and plenty of ferries. 'I'll enter the horse for the Heineken Chase at Punchestown but I'm not saying he'll run in it. We are thinking more in terms of another Kerry National and then plan again for Aintree. 'Maybe Henrietta Knight would bring over Best Mate for the Kerry National and keep the weights down for us!'
