THE trainer of Grand National winner Corach Rambler received a special message of congratulations from an Abba legend.
Lucinda Russell-trained Corach Rambler romped home in Saturday's showpiece event at Aintree, winning by two and a quarter lengths from Vanillier in second.
The National superstar received a hero's welcome from local fans upon returning to his Scottish stables on Sunday.
But it was one unlikely message that stunned his trainers.
Abba singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad recently had lunch with Russell, partner Peter Scudamore and the horse's syndicate of seven owners.
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And she was quite taken with the 8-1 winner.
Shocked Scudamore revealed: "We have some lovely owners and we had lunch with them one day and they said 'we have a guest coming' and Frida (Anni-Frid Lyngstad) from Abba turned up.
"She was just the most beautiful person, as a human not just in her beauty itself. Unbelievable, just so kind. I felt really humbled. She was kind enough to ask me about horses and stuff.
"We were driving up the motorway yesterday and the phone went 'ping' and it was the owners, she'd said tell Scu and Lucinda 'well done'.
"After the lunch we had said 'who is the most famous person we had ever met' and we couldn't come up with anyone more famous - the Queen, well that didn't count I don't think.
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"That is the Grand National. We live in this bubble of racing that doesn't really step outside but that makes you realise, Frida from Abba - as big as it gets!"
Swathes of people turned out to welcome Corach Rambler back to Russell's Arlary House Stables, just north of Edinburgh.
Speaking to the Mirror, Russell said: "It is just amazing. We were coming up the M6 last night, what Corach does is very important to us because we know him so well and you just wonder whether other people feel the same way.
"It was just amazing driving in today, the number of cars and people and the support he has.
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"I know he was favourite in the race the but it is just lovely, how important he is to the community, not just the racing community.
"It is pretty overwhelming I have to say."
The race was delayed by 15 minutes due to protests by animal rights activists with Russell feeling that education is key to bridge the differences between the two sides.
She said: " I have always said, everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
"I would like them to be a little bit more educated in their opinion.
"If they could come and see the horses, understand that we are doing everything that we can. We can't reduce risk to zero, you just can't.
"I get that some people don't like racing, that is fine, but I would like them to come and see how well they are looked after."
