MON Mome’s fairytale Grand National win has put Herefordshire firmly on the sporting map, according to the BBC’s voice of racing.

Cornelius Lysaght says the historic success of King’s Caple-trained Mon Mome may have been a surprise - but it was not a fluke.

“From a media point of view, it was the perfect fairytale,” said Lysaght, who was at Hereford Racecourse last week to see Mon Mome’s victory parade.

“The race had the drama at the start, 33 horses going on to the second circuit, about 15 horses in with a chance of winning, and then a winning horse that no-one predicted.

“To have a 100-1 winner, ridden by a jockey making his Grand National debut, was fantastic.”

Lysaght said it was a stunning Grand National with the exception of Hear the Echo’s death from a heart attack.

“Venetia Williams and I were laughing after the race, when I asked her whether we could describe the win as ‘one for Herefordshire’,” he said.

Lysaght, a former Upton Bishop resident, thinks Miss Williams will never grow tired of hearing about Mon Mome’s triumph.

“She will never get bored of it and she will be happy to tell stories of April 4, 2009 long after she stops training.

“Everyone knows the Grand National and to have a winner is something that most people can only dream about.”

“It was a surprise that Mon Mome won the race - but it was no fluke.

“He won against good quality horses. He won by 12 lengths - he blew them out of the water.

“In the racing industry, we could soon be referring to other shocks as ‘the biggest surprise since Mon Mome’.”

The BBC Radio racing correspondent took time off from his broadcasting duties last Wednesday to visit his family and watch Mon Mome’s parade at Hereford Racecourse.

“It was great to see Mon Mome and so many people interested in him. Venetia and her stable are on a tremendous high.

“People in Herefordshire are very proud of this win and it has put Herefordshire - and King’s Caple - firmly on the sporting map.

“There is huge support for Venetia in Ross-on-Wye, Hereford and Monmouth.”

Lysaght paid tribute to Williams’ sound judgement as a trainer.

“There’s not a more shrewd trainer to get the right horse in the right handicap race,” said Lysaght.

“She drives an Aston Martin and if the Grand National was decided on the elegance of trainers, Venetia would certainly win it.”

He added: “To become only the second woman to train a Grand National winner is an amazing achievement for Venetia.”