National hero Birch retired

Former Grand National winner Silver Birch has been retired following his run at Aintree last week.

Veteran runs his last race over the Aintree fences

Former Grand National winner Silver Birch has been retired following his run at Aintree last week. The 13-year-old, successful in the big race in 2007, finished 12th over the big fences in Friday's Topham Chase for trainer Gordon Elliott. The gelding will spend the rest of his days at owner Brian Walsh's Rheindross Stud in Kilcock, County Kildare. "He's been great. He's won a Grand National for me and I hope he has a happy retirement now," said County Meath-based Elliott. "We won't forget the day he won the National for a while. He's been a great horse - he won a Grand National and was second at the Cheltenham Festival." Walsh bought Silver Birch for £20,000 at the Doncaster Sales in May 2006 after he suffered an injury in the Grand National the previous month. He had formerly been trained by Paul Nicholls to win the Becher Chase and the Welsh National in 2004.