CHAMPAGNE greeted the region's latest sporting hero as Grand National winner Red Marauder made his triumphant return to the North-East.

Less than 24 hours after the 11-year-old gelding, caked in Aintree mud, stormed passed the finishing post and into sporting legend, he was back at his County Durham stable learning to live with his new-found fame.

There have been more stylish winners of the world's greatest steeplechase, but there can never have been a winner who showed so much sheer guts.

In one of the most remarkable Nationals ever run, Norman Mason's horse kept its feet in a mud-bath which, at one stage, reduced the field of 40 to just two and showed true grit to achieve a famous victory.

The 33-1 outsider - almost written off by the rest of the racing world after his failure at Aintree last year when well fancied - confounded his critics in an epic race on the sodden turf.

But back home at the picturesque Brancepeth Manor Farm stables, ecstatic owner Mr Mason revealed it was only a last-minute decision which ensured Red Marauder earned his place in racing's hall of fame.

Stable-mate Red Ark, a better jumper, was the original choice of Mr Mason and his leading jockey and assistant trainer, Richard Guest.

But the downpour convinced the stable to pin their hopes on proven stayer, but sometimes fallible jumper, Red Marauder.

The decision was justified on Saturday, as Red Marauder survived the melee at the Canal Turn, where seven horses were brought down and an eighth refused after North Yorkshire hopeful Paddy's Return ran back across the course.

Jockey Richard Guest, who three years ago almost quit racing, went on to beat the challenge of the only other survivor, Smarty, in a straight head-to-head race over the closing few fences to become the first North-East winner of the National since Red Alligator in 1968.

The victory landed Mr Mason - a 63-year-old millionaire and former nightclub bouncer who earned his wealth through a chain of amusement arcades, bingo halls and night clubs - a top prize of £300,000.

It also sparked celebrations as punters who had backed Red Marauder went delirious and bookmakers took a hammering.

One bookies in Brandon reportedly ran out of money to pay the winnings, so heavy was the support for the local hero.

Reuben Page, who runs a string of bookmakers' shops in the County Durham area, said they had to pay out a lot of money.

Nationally, the bookies were pleased with the result, although one unnamed punter did walk away with £12,000 after Red Marauder's success.

Despite the media frenzy, Mr Mason fulfilled a pledge to attend a friend's birthday party, at the Black Bull pub, at Moulton, near Scotch Corner, on his way home.

But he was back at Brancepeth Manor yesterday along with wife Dorothy, their 20-month-old daughter Claudia, and a host of friends and well-wishers.

"I'm on top of the world. It was always a dream to do this and now it's happened, it's quite unbelievable. I'm still on cloud nine."

Also receiving praise were the yard's travelling head lad, Mark Cobb, 28, and 26-year-old stable girl Claire Metcalfe, from West Auckland, who helped to prepare Red Marauder for Saturday's epic success