Smith is looking forward to next win rather than back to Aintree

They are the same three words – the DNA of the unfashionable Smith stable on the moors above Bingley – which her husband Harvey, the showjumping legend, uttered after their veteran Auroras Encore won the Grand National.

Six months after she became only the third woman to train the winner of the world’s greatest steeplechase, Smith is unfazed when introduced as the ‘Grand National-winning trainer’.

Today will be no different at Wetherby when she saddles three runners and collects an award for being the leading trainer at the West Yorkshire track in the 2012-13 season with an impressive eight winners.

“I don’t really think about it (Aintree), to be honest with you,” a typically modest Smith told the Yorkshire Post. “I honestly don’t.

“It was great, wasn’t it? It was a wonderful day, but it is onwards and upwards. You’ve got to keep looking for the next race to win.

“We all had a whale of a time, and I think it was a fair achievement, but we have to worry about what is happening now rather than in the past.

“We’ll have about 50 horses in training, we have some nice new owners and we have our own horses, but I’m not one for saying we’ll do this or we’ll do that. You end up getting a kick up your backside.

“I’m really pleased with everything and I’m touching wood when I say this, but the injuries are minimal and I’m hoping it stays that way. They’ve blossomed this summer. Last year, they had no summer – the weather was that bad. But it’s the same with humans; a day or week of sun makes everyone feel better.”

Like most Smith horses, they will be trained with the aim of becoming steeplechasers – and the chance of competing in races like the National. They specialise in buying horses cheaply and turning them into winners. It worked with Auroras Encore and they have high hopes of an eyecatching clutch of younger chasers.

Yet it will take a special horse to emulate 11-year-old Auroras who is in rude health, even though he parted company with Smith on the gallops recently when spooked by a dog. “There I was, sat there looking at him,” says Smith. “Only my pride was hurt.”

Fitness permitting, Auroras will attempt to become the first horse since Red Rum 40 years ago to win successive Nationals, but his high handicap mark means that there will be few races open to him unless he lugs top weight.

“He’s in very good form now. By the end of October, he should be ready to go, said Smith, who recalls his impersonation of a ‘bucking bronco’ at the Great Yorkshire Show.

“He might get an entry in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby, he might not. As for the attention, he just loves it, doesn’t he?

“He’s just a blooming nuisance when he has to parade and stand still for too long. The racing photographer John Grossick was here and he put on a show in the paddock for five minutes, bucking, rolling on his back and jumping.

“You’ve never seen anything like it. He was just like a two-year-old. Let’s hope we get good ground and a bit of sun again at Aintree – and a decent weight.”

Two potential stars are the Smith-owned Green Wizard, a Wetherby winner on the Yorkshire Post Ladies’ Evening, and Vintage Star, one of stable jockey Ryan Mania’s favourites which is owned by Trevor Hemmings.

“They’re all in good order. I can’t put anything between them,” said Smith.

“Vintage Star has come in pretty big and burly. Herdsman of Trevor’s, he’s in very, very good nick. The same with Gansey who’ll head straight to the Grand Sefton at Aintree over the National fences. Green Wizard, he won three times and has gone up in the weights, but he’ll be aimed at some nice races.”

Another of note is Forward Flight, a Smith purchase from Doncaster Sales which was then purchased by legendary jumps owner JP McManus. Back in training after a niggle, he is likely to go hurdling in December.

A new recruit is De Boitron from Ferdy Murphy’s yard. A winner over three miles at Kelso last April, he is likely to be saved for decent ground and Smith says she will be “disappointed” if she cannot “pick up a nice race” with him.

As for today’s runners, first up in the handicap chase is Stagecoach Pearl with young conditional Jonny England using his 5lb weight allowance. Today, says Smith, will reveal if the grey sticks to two miles – or steps up in trip. She has an open mind.

“He’s in quite good nick, and it is local. He doesn’t travel well. At Ascot, he didn’t eat, he didn’t drink, all that carry on.”

Next up is Coverholder, a typically shrewd purchase who won five races on the bounce before going up in class. He is likely to go novice chasing after today.

No Planning goes in the feature Bobby Renton Handicap Chase which honours the late Ripon trainer whose Freebooter won the 1950 National. A heavy faller at Ayr on his last outing, Smith says the horse suffered “bumps and bruises” and today will determine future targets.

“We just take it as it comes, but we do have a good routine and it works for our horses,” says Smith. “It’s all systems go.”

Without such a winning formula, Auroras Encore would not have become the first Yorkshire winner of the National since Merryman II in 1960.