Kitty almost tripped the light fantastic

FOR a good four miles, South Wales, sporting romantics and scriptwriters dared to dream.

- ANDY DUNN

That those dreams were dashed by the might of the most powerful trainer and owner in National Hunt racing - and others from Ireland - did not matter.

For a good four miles, Kitty's Light threatened to produce the most heartwarming Grand National win since cancer survivor Bob Champion triumphed on Aldaniti 43 years ago.

For a good four miles, Kitty's Light a horse that cost a meagre five grand - looked as though he might give trainer Christian Williams a victory that would have been worth a princely sum, but would actually have been priceless.

Kitty's Light was the public's horse in this instalment of the world's greatest race, having been an inspiration and a tonic for the Williams family, whose six-year-old daughter Betsy is battling leukaemia.

And when I Am Maximus and Paul Townend (below), in those green and gold colours of multi-millionaire JP McManus, was greeted by all-conquering trainer Willie Mullins in a raucous Aintree winners' enclosure, a poignant scene was being played out no more than 100 yards away.

In a quiet cooling-down area, jockey Jack Tudor dismounted from Kitty's Light and Betsy gave the horse a loving pat.