GRAND NATIONAL RESULTS 2024

Corach Rambler gave Lucinda Russell a second success in the Grand National. The nine-year-old, who was sent off the 8-1 favourite, finished clear of Vanillier, Gaillard Du Mesnil, last year's winner Noble Yeats and The Big Dog under Derek Fox. Corach Rambler, a two-time winner of the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival, was the first British winner of the Grand National since One For Arthur struck for Russell and Fox in 2017.

Working his way from the rear of the field to take up a prominent position by halfway, Walyer-Cohen got the better of a fine duel up the run-in, with the rest well beaten off. Runner-up to Ahoy Senor two starts back and ninth in the Ultima at Cheltenham on his latest start, he's only the second novice to win since 1958, but 2016 hero Rule The World was considerably more experienced and in his second season as a chaser. Putting in a fine round of jumping, in his newly fitted cheekpieces, he became the first 7yo to win since Bogskar back in 1940, and the fifth Irish-trained winner in the last six runnings. The win sets the seal on the career of Sam Waley-Cohen, who compiled such a superb record over these fences. He picked up a nine-day whip ban, but won't mind too much as this was his final ride.

Rachael Blackmore created history on Saturday, becoming the first woman to ride the winner of the Randox Grand National when completing a magical success in the world's most famous race aboard Minella Times for trainer Henry de Bromhead and owner JP McManus. The leading rider at last month's Cheltenham Festival, Blackmore continued her dream season when partnering the eight-year-old to a wonderful victory from Balko Des Flos, Any Second Now and Burrows Saint. In a watershed moment for the sport, Blackmore was at her brilliant best on 11-1 shot Minella Times, biding her time in the early stages before creeping into contention on the second circuit. The duo were in the lead over the last and and put daylight between themselves and their rivals coming to the elbow before holding on tenaciously for one of the most remarkable wins in the race's history. Victory also capped a remarkable season for winning trainer De Bromhead, saddling his first winner in the race with his sixth runner and after training the winners of the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival, while it was a second win in the race for McManus after Don't Push It's triumph in 2010.

Tiger Roll got an outstanding ride by Davy Russell and followed up last year's success in ready fashion. He had a 9lb higher mark this time around, but was actually 8lb ahead of the handicapper courtesy of his romp in the Cross Country at last month's Cheltenham Festival. Russell tracked main-market rival Rathvinden on the first circuit and one could tell six out he was confident. He did well to recover from a bad mistake four from home and once the runner-up hit the last went into a clear lead. As was the case last year, he seemed to idle up the run-in and it's hard to gauge just how much he had up his sleeve at the finish. Magic Of Light the only mare in attendance, ran a mighty race in defeat and would've given the winner a bit more to think about had she not met the last wrong. That wasn't her first notable mistake, but this was her first taste of National fences and the 8yo is fully entitled to come back and have another crack. Rathvinden, a previous 4m National Hunt winner, came back with a belated prep win in the Bobbyjo and was 5lb ahead of the handicapper. He was always up there, but despite being an 11yo this was just his second season as a chaser and he did get caught out at times by these new fences. On softer ground, he could well have emerged on top as the first pair were too speedy from the last and, all considered, he ran an absolute blinder.

There were 38 runners at the start and just 12 managed to finish, with plenty of casualties on the first circuit. The first four home were all Irish-trained and two pulled 11l clear, with the remarkable Tiger Roll just clinging on from the rallying Pleasant Company. The ground took its toll on some of the runners and Becher's had to be bypassed second time around due to a stricken jockey. A step up from both Tiger Roll and Pleasant Company, the former just a couple of pounds shy of the average level of the winner for the past ten years.

A good edition of the race, as ever it proved eventful and saw only the second ever Scottish-trained winner of the contest in One For Arthur, who raced away with it on the run-in. Blaklion appeared to have opened up a winning lead racing across the Melling road but the field closed up on him and there were still five in with every chance taking two out. All 40 horses were reported to have returned safely.

A top-quality edition of the race, with 19 of the 39 rated 150-plus, and they went a good gallop from the outset, soon being strung out. The rain had a significant effect on the race also, not suiting a fair few of the runners and obviously making it an even more thorough test of stamina. More of an old school National, 16 finished, with the first four well clear, and perhaps unsurprisingly the lower-weighted horses dominated. Remarkably it went to a horse who was a second-season novice and still a maiden over fences coming into the race.

The world's most famous steeplechase and a contest similar in quality to the 2014 running. The time was much faster than the previous two runnings over this reduced trip, and Leighton Aspell became the first rider since Brian Fletcher on Red Rum in 1974 to win the race in successive years. The Canal Turn was bypassed on the second circuit.

The ground was Good to soft, good in places on the National course. One of the classiest recent renewals of the most famous steeplechase in the world, evidenced by the fact that last year's winner, who was not bottom weight then, would not have got a run this time, and with the weights headed by a pair of multiple Grade 1 winners.

As the course had been modified on safety grounds and the handicap has been compressed, the most famous race of the jumps season has attracted better horses as recent results testify - the last three winners were all rated 150 or above - while the previous seven winners' ratings averaged out at just over 140. Another modification was that the start was moved away from the stands, to reduce the distance to the first fence and also cut down the crowd noise that the horses had to endure, which resulted in the race being run over half a furlong shorter than in recent years. The changes seemed to have a positive effect as they got off to a first-time start, there were no fallers until the Canal Turn. It paid to race close to the front as only the runner-up came from off the pace.

The world's most famous steeplechase once again attracted a maximum field, and a series of modifications to the course had seen the race attract increasingly high-class performers, as can be seen by the official ratings of the last three scorers. The trend was further emphasised by the presence of the previous month's Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Synchronised. However, his chance was not helped when he propped and unseated the champion jockey on the way to the start before cantering off. He was quickly caught and appeared none the worse after being checked over. Sadly though his race did not last long as he departed at Becher's first time with fatal results. This was a terrible postscript to the race and the revived sad memories of the last time a Gold Cup winner fell fatally in the National, Alverton, who was ridden by Synchronised's trainer, back in 1979. The race produced the closest finish in many years with NEPTUNE COLLONGES getting up in the last stride to collar Sunnyhillboy, in the process becoming the first grey to win the race since Nicolaus Silver back in 1961. A top-class chaser at his best back in 2008-2009, winning three Grade 1s in Ireland and finishing in the frame in successive Gold Cups, NEPTUNE COLLONGES had shown this season he was still capable of running big races, being closely handicapped with Giles Cross on Haydock form. He was behind early but gradually crept into contention on the second circuit and galloped on stoutly up the run-in to just nose ahead on the line. A real star for connections, despite being overshadowed by stable companions Kauto Star and Denman, this was a fitting climax to his career, as his owner had announced beforehand that this would be his last race.

The ground had been drying out all week and only limited watering was possible overnight, causing the ground to ride on the fast side and the time was well under standard. For the first time, fences were omitted in this race, the 20th and 22nd, which was due to be Becher's second time. Very few got into the race having been held up, and BALLABRIGGS, who was in front jumping the water, kept galloping to score in really game fashion, enabling Donald McCain to emulate his father in winning the race. A progressive chaser who won the Kim Muir at the 2010 festival off top weight, he had won twice over hurdles this season before being beaten by Skipper's Brig on his return to chasing. He really took well to the fences and was in the firing line throughout, only losing the lead on the second circuit when making a mistake and pecking at Valentine's second time. He was in front again soon after though and battled on gamely having been there to be shot at all the way up the straight. Unsurprisingly, he was exhausted after the race and was quickly dismounted, but will no doubt be given plenty of time to recover.