Jonjo O'Neill revealed yesterday that Clan Royal will not run again this season and will be trained specifically for next year's John Smith's Grand National.

The ten-year-old did not enjoy the best of fortune when second to Amberleigh House in last year's Aintree spectacular, and it was even worse for the luckless gelding on Saturday.

One of six runners in the great race for owner J P McManus, Clan Royal appeared very fresh on his first outing for 115 days and pulled his way to the front at the Chair (15th).

He was tanking along in a clear lead when he was hampered and carried out by a loose horse on the run to Becher's on the second circuit (22nd), dumping Tony McCoy on the ground.

Clan Royal had been installed the 6-1 favourite with the sponsors for the Betfred Gold Cup on Saturday week but the Jackdaws Castle trainer said: ''He's finished for the season. I hope we can try for next year's National, although I doubt he'll go back there for any other race over the big fences.

''Next season I think I'll keep him to hurdles before the National, as I intended doing this winter.''

McManus' racing manager Frank Berry reflected: ''It was a long way from home but you'd have liked to see him getting a run. He was jumping great, looked to be travelling well and enjoying himself.

''He always runs keen around there. He just takes a bit of settling.

''It was just one of those things, typical of what happens in the Grand National.

''It was a great race and Hedgehunter was very impressive. He bolted up.

''Touch wood it would be great to get to Aintree again next year.''

McManus's other Grand National runners, Innox (seventh), Spot Thedifference (18th), Shamawan (last of the 21 finishers), Le Coudray (pulled up) Risk Accessor (unseated rider second) were all reported none the worse.

Hedgehunter, meanwhile, has arrived back in his native Ireland safe and sound and was due to be paraded in front of an adoring public at Leopardstown racecourse yesterday.

Ruby Walsh was left in the lead on the 7-1 favourite when Clan Royal was hampered and he did not have any cause for concern from then on, the pair drawing readily clear from the second-last to beat Royal Auclair by 14 lengths.

Trainer Willie Mullins said yesterday: ''He seemed very relaxed in his box after racing.

''He seems to have travelled well, he's a little stiff but other than that he's good.

''Hedgehunter will go up to Leopardstown to parade this afternoon then he'll come home tonight.''

The gelding would land a £250,000 bonus for connections should he follow up his success in the Betfred at Sandown on April 23, for which the sponsors make him a 7-1 chance.

However, the Bagenalstown-based handler warned: ''The Betfred might be a bit quick.

''I'm looking at the French Gold Cup (Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris on May 29) as well so we'll just see how he recovers.''

Whatever race Mullins decides to go for next with Hedgehunter, the gelding's main target next season will again be the world's greatest steeplechase.

He continued: ''The plan long-term is to come back to Aintree for another National bid. We'll definitely aim him at that next year.''

Hedgehunter was realising a life-long dream for millionaire owner Trevor Hemmings, whose vast business empire includes Blackpool Tower.

''To win it is unbelievable and we're still on a high. I went to sleep at about 2am and woke again at 5am.

''Ferdy Murphy (trainer of Hemmings' Europa, who finished 20th) said it was like watching Red Rum again.''

Carrie Ford has hung up her riding boots after giving Forest Gunner a tremendous ride to finish fifth.

''She tells me that's it, she's retired for the last time," said her husband Richard, the horse's trainer.

''She said she has but I've heard that before. I thought she gave Forest Gunner a brilliant ride. She had one hell of a good run.

''The horse has run a big race but he didn't quite last the trip. Carrie said he was running on vapours crossing the Melling Road and it was purely the horse's guts that he was still there at the last.

''He's run an absolute corker. You could have put anybody on him and he wouldn't have got home. The horse has come back with a couple of small cuts but they are only very minor.

''That's him finished for the season. All being well he'll probably go back to Aintree for the Becher Chase.''

In the build-up to the race, Aintree legend Ginger McCain said a woman could not ride the winner of the Grand National and had threatened to ''bare his backside to the world'' if Mrs Ford steered Forest Gunner to victory.

''Crossing the Melling Road I thought 'oh heck I'm in trouble','' joked McCain, who saddled last year's winner Amberleigh House to finish tenth.

''I thought 'do I be brave or do I do a runner' - and I rather think I might have done a runner.

''But she gave the horse a great ride, which was a tremendous reflection on her, and Richard too for getting the horse in top shape.

''She had the horse in the right position at the right time and she let him have a look at his fences."