Just beaten - McKelvey's late charge is all in vain at Aintree. Enlarge Image

McKelvey, based at Little Newcastle near Fishguard, made a late charge to finish second by just three-quarters of a length to Silver Birch at Aintree.

McKelvey was paraded around the village green at Sunday's party.

Resident Richard Davies said the whole village was proud of the "great achievement" by trainer Peter Bowen.

Mr Bowen said that McKelvey had picked up a slight tendon injury, but he is expected to make a full recovery and has already got next year's race in his sights.

"He'll be all right and he will be back in next year," said Mr Bowen.

For someone from here to come within an ace of winning the Grand National is a great achievement Richard Davies

"It's not too serious an injury. We have a spa here so he'll be in there three times a day and he'll be getting the best treatment."

Mr Bowen, whose other horse Ballycassidy unseated his rider on Saturday admitted that he had mixed feelings about the performance of McKelvey, who was ridden by Tim O'Brien.

"I was both delighted and gutted with his run," said Mr Bowen.

Villagers turned out to greet the horse on Sunday

"I don't want to take anything away from the winner, but the injury must have cost him the race.

"[The injury] must have cost him a couple of lengths and we weren't beaten that far."

Little Newcastle resident Alison Evans, 36, said everyone had been pulling together for Sunday's celebration.

"We were going to have a fantastic party if they won and we aren't scaling it back much," she said.

"We knew he had a good chance but with the Grand National, you just don't know."

Local teacher Richard Davies, 49, added that the race has created a great deal of excitement.

"We all keep an interest in the racing and we are all proud of what Peter has done," he said.

"It is only a village of about three dozen houses and for someone from here to come within an ace of winning the Grand National is a great achievement."