Corach Rambler won the 2023 Grand National at Aintree, for Kinross trainer Lucinda Russell who was winning the race for the second time.
Not even protesters could stop the hero of the hour in a race which was delayed by sixteen minutes after activists scaled fences to glue themselves to obstacles. Winning jockey Derek Fox had the 8/1 favourite handy on the first circuit and avoided any trouble to loom large alongside long time leader Mister Coffey on the home turn. However, Fox - who won the race in 2017 for One For Arthur, who was also trained by Russell - knew not to get to the front too soon and he had to bide his time to spring forward after the last.
Sprinting clear after the last, he held off the late burst of Vanillier (20/1) who closed fastest of all and Gaillard Du Mesnil (10/1) who stayed on through the pack to take the minor places after being well behind earlier on. Last year’s winner Noble Yeats (10/1) was fourth and The Big Dog (12/1) - who saw a flurry of late money for canine lovers - held on for fifth after being up there early on. Sixth place went to outsider Born By The Sea (50/1) with Roi Mage (33/1) finishing seventh. Mister Coffey (33/1) finished eighth.
There were seventeen finishers of the course.
Corach Rambler's winning jockey Fox said, "The only concern was being in front too long. He's a marvellous horse."
Earlier this week, protest group Animal Rising released a statement saying they would be “taking direct action to protect the horses” and caused delays after scaling fences and staging running battles with police. Horses and jockeys were sent back to the parade ring before finally being sent on their way once the obstruction was cleared.
There was one fatality after the race when Scotland's other runner Hill Sixteen, ridden by former winning rider Ryan Mania could not be saved after an injury sustained at the first fence.
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