Noble Yeats has won the Grand National 2022.
40 horses competed for the top prize at Aintree today in what was the 174th running of the world famous race. It is the first time in two years it has taken place without any severe coronavirus restrictions. Last year, the Grand National had to take place as a virtual race with a computer-simulated replica of the world-famous Aintree track and was outright cancelled the year before.
The day was sold out for its return today, though, with 70,000 punters on the course for when the Grand National race got underway at 5.15pm. Any Second Now was favourite at 15-2, followed by Run Wild Fred at 8-1 and Minella Times at 9-1.
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And what a race this year was - after a tight race to the line with Any Second Now, the 50-1 shot Noble Yeats managed to pull away to take the title. Noble Yeats' jockey, Sam Waley-Cohen, was riding his last ever race in a fairytale ending to his career.
The top five horses to cross the line were:
1. Noble Yeats 50-1
2. Any Second Now 15-2
3. Delta Work 10-1
4. Santini 33-1
5. Fiddlerontheroof 12-1
6. Longhouse Poet
Bookies usually pay out on the top six places at the Grand National due to the size of the field - but you'll need to check with who you put your bet on with.
The race covered four-and-a-half miles - two laps - of the famous course, with all horses taking on 30 fences. Rachel Blackmore was hoping to go for more Grand National glory after a life-changing success aboard Minella Times last year, when she made history as the first woman to ride the winner of the world’s greatest steeplechase. She rode the JP McManus-owned gelding once more but was unable to claim a second victory.
