Papillon (5 June 1991 – 3 April 2017) was an
Irish
Irish may refer to:
Common meanings
* Someone or something of, from, or related to:
** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe
***Éire, Irish language name for the isle
** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...
racehorse formerly trained at Greenhills stables, in
Kill, County Kildare
Kill () is a village and parish in County Kildare, Ireland near the county's border with Dublin beside the N7. Its population was recorded as 3,348 people in the 2016 census.
Kill is the birthplace of the Fenian John Devoy as well as home to ...
. His most notable success was winning the 2000
Grand National
The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England. First run in 1839, it is a handicap ...
.
Papillon was owned by American Mrs Betty Moran, owner of
Brushwood Stable
Brushwood can mean:
* ''Melaleuca uncinata'' or Broombrush
* Brushwood, New South Wales, a rural community in the central east part of the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia
* Brian Brushwood
Brian Allen Brushwood (born January 17, ...
. She was not a fan of the Grand National and it took considerable persuasion before she would allow Papillon to be entered for the race in 2000.
Papillon had started the day with odds of 33–1 but was backed down to 10-1 by the time the race began. He was a first ever ride in the race for 20-year-old
jockey
A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used to describe the individual ...
Ruby Walsh
Rupert Walsh (born 14 May 1979 in Kill, County Kildare, Ireland) is an Irish former jockey. He is the second child, and eldest son, of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen. Walsh is the third most prolific winner in Britis ...
, and was trained by Ruby's father
Ted Walsh
Ted Walsh (born 14 April 1950) is an Irish amateur jockey turned racehorse trainer who was born and raised in Co. Cork but based in Kill, County Kildare, Ireland. Ted is also father to amateur Irish National Hunt jockey, Katie Walsh and profes ...
. When Papillon crossed the finishing line to win the world's richest
steeplechase
Steeplechase may refer to:
* Steeplechase (horse racing), a type of horse race in which participants are required to jump over obstacles
* Steeplechase (athletics), an event in athletics that derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing ...
he became an instant
punters' favourite. Papillon previously came a very close second in the 1998
Irish Grand National
The Irish Grand National is a National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Fairyhouse over a distance of about 3 miles and 5 furlongs (5,834 m ...
to
Bobbyjo
Bobbyjo
(1990 – 2001) was an Irish bred racehorse by Bustineto and Markup, best remembered as the winner of the 1999 Grand National steeplechase at Aintree. Bobbyjo was owned by Bobby Burke Mullaghmore, Co. Galway.
Humble Beginnings
In 1 ...
under top-weight.
In 2001 Papillon returned to
Aintree
Aintree is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, Merseyside, England. Historically in Lancashire, it lies between Walton and Maghull on the A59 road, north-east of Liverpool city centre, in North West England.
It i ...
to attempt to defend his winning record. However, conditions were completely different from the previous year, as the race was run on very heavy ground and Papillon carried more weight. He was brought down at the 19th fence but Ruby Walsh realised there would be very few completions and remounted the horse to finish last of the four finishers, earning £25,000 for doing so.
Papillon was retired at the end of the 2002/03 season, having earned his connections over £400,000 in win and place prize money.
Papillon died on 3 May 2017, aged 26.
Grand National record
Pedigree
References
1991 racehorse births
2017 racehorse deaths
Grand National winners
National Hunt racehorses
Racehorses bred in Ireland
Racehorses trained in Ireland
Thoroughbred family 2-t
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