THE curtain came down on the career of Herefordshire’s most recent Grand National star in the lead-up to this year’s race.

Mon Mome, 100/1 winner in the 2009 race, was retired by trainer Venetia Williams.

The French-bred 13-year-old, who carried the colours of owner Vida Bingham, won six of his 53 races.

But he will always be remembered for recording one of the biggest shocks in the race’s history when he provided National debutant jockey Liam Treadwell with a fairytale success over the Aintree fences.

Trainer Williams paid tribute to Mon Mome as she announced the retirement of her National winner.

"He's been an amazing horse to train and gave me the best day of my career when winning the Grand National,” she said.

"I would have loved for him to have been the first horse since Bindaree (winner in 2002) to win again after landing the National, but it was not to be.

"He showed a bit of form at Wincanton earlier this year, but has not run anything like that since and we've decided to retire him, as that was going to be the plan at the end of this season anyway."

Mon Mome had not been the force of old recently and was pulled up on what proved to be his last appearance at Warwick on March 10.

Treadwell commented on his favourite: "Mon Mome gave me a fantastic day when he won the Grand National, but it was not just that; I was also second on him as a conditional in the Welsh National and, at my first Cheltenham Festival, I was fourth on him in one of the handicaps, so he meant a great deal to me for all sorts of reasons.

"He was a brilliant horse to ride, a real gentleman, and I owe him a lot.

“He still has his old zest at home, tugging his way up the gallop at the front of the string, and he's fit and well, but I can understand why Venetia and the owner have come to their decision."