It was the perfect swansong for the retiring jockey Sam Waley-Cohen as he reigned supreme on board Noble Yeats in the 2022 Grand National.
There were emotional scenes after they crossed the finishing line as Noble Yeats pipped Any Second Now ridden by Mark Walsh and Delta Work who placed third.
Victory represented a fairytale story for Waley-Cohen as he bowed out in style, with family members present to witness the feat.
The amateur rider, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Long Run in 2011, said: “He ran for me, he couldn’t go the early pace and I just tried to find pockets to give him a bit of space to run into. I found myself on the inner and was going more forward than I wanted to.
“He loves seeing his fences, so I kept trying to find a spot where he could see them. When I asked him he came, but if I just half-asked him he wasn’t confident, so I was trying to sit against him – he likes the bit in his mouth and your legs against him.
“I was just trying to get him in that nice rhythm and as soon as I asked him, he went. I thought I’d gone too early (at the last). I really didn’t want to get there then, but as soon as he picked up I thought ‘he’s gone, he’s got this’.
“Dad has always supported me unwaveringly, we’ve never had a cross word, it’s always been for fun. It’s been a love affair. To my wife, long-suffering, they aren’t all good days, there are bad days in this sport.
“We came here thinking the sun’s out, it’s your last ride – go and have a nice spin, no expectations. Just enjoy it. It’s a dream. I couldn’t believe it.”
Following the big race, Mirror Sport has taken a look at the full result, including the placed horses, plus the finishers and fallers from Aintree on Saturday.
Any Second Now gave favourite backers a huge run for their money, looking the most likely winner two out but the JP McManus-owned favourite was conceding 12lb to Noble Yeats and that ultimately proved too much.
The principals pulled a massive 20 lengths clear of third-placed Delta Work, last month's winner of the cross country chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Santini, previously placed in a Gold Cup, filled fourth spot at 50-1, eight lengths ahead of Fiddlerontheroof.
Full result of the 2022 Grand National
1. Noble Yeats 50-1
2. Any Second Now 15-2f
3. Delta Work 10-1
4. Santini 33-1
5. Fiddlerontheroof 12-1
Rest of the finishers
6. Longhouse Poet 12-1
7. Freewheelin Dylan 50-1
8. Coko Beach 50-1
9. Escaria Ten 25-1
10. Romain De Senam 125-1
11. Samcro 80-1
12. Commodore 33-1
13. Class Conti 100-1
14. Blaklion 50-1
15. Lostinstranslation 50-1
Fallers
Minella Times
Run Wild Fred
Burrows Saint
Mount Ida
De Rasher Counter
Kildisart
Enjoy D'Allen
Agusta Gold
Death Duty
Domaine De L'Isle
Eclair Surf
Unseated rider
Fortescue
Dingo Dollar
Pulled up
School Boy Hours
Brahma Bull
Two For Gold
Good boy Bobby
Discorama
Top Ville Ben
Mighty Thunder
Cloth Cap
Snow Leopardess
Deise Aba
Poker Party
