'I thought at the last we might just get there' - Ted Walsh on Any Second Now

The abiding feeling in the Any Second Now camp was that the horse may well have left his Grand National behind him in 2021, when a gallant third after being badly hampered, as 12 months on and 7lb higher he managed to push Noble Yeats to within a little over two lengths in second.

Ted Walsh, who won the race in 2000 with Papillon but desperately wanted to see Any Second Now gain compensation after a luckless trip the previous year, took solace in the fact he has a Grand National trophy sitting at home on his mantlepiece.

Walsh said: "It's great for the Waley-Cohen family. It's hard luck for us as I've been here before. I don't think I'll be here again with him, it's hard to come back that often.

"He's a great consistent horse, he ran his heart and soul out. Mark said he missed the break a little bit and didn't get travelling as well as he normally does. But then he jumped well and travelled well and I thought at the last we might just get there.

"It's wonderful for them, old man Cohen there is a great supporter of racing."

How the 2022 Grand National at Aintree unfolded

Minella Times, also sporting JP McManus's iconic green and gold silks, saw his repeat bid go up in smoke when badly hampered and unseating Rachael Blackmore at the ninth.

Blackmore said: "He just jumped into the horse in front of him at Valentine's."

Much of the pre-race build-up revolved around the grey mare Snow Leopardess, whose backstory captured the imagination of the public, but the potential fairytale return from serious injury and motherhood to winning a Grand National ended when she was pulled up after the 16th when well beaten.

Gordon Elliott, bidding to win the race for record-equalling fourth time, could manage only third with Delta Work, who the trainer felt would have finished closer had he jumped slicker.

Of the remainder, Santini ran a storming race in fourth, with his trainer Polly Gundry revelling in her journey with the ten-year-old.

She said: "It's been the most amazing year. We're a small yard, we'll stay a small yard but we like having the odd really lovely horse."

Sadly, Discorama suffered an untreatable pelvic injury between fences.

Professor Chris Proudman, veterinary advisor to Aintree racecourse, said: "After the race, Discorama, who had pulled up while travelling on the flat between fences, was assessed further in Aintree's veterinary treatment facility within the stables. Very sadly we determined that he had sustained an untreatable pelvic injury and it has now been necessary to put him to sleep on welfare grounds. Our thoughts are with his connections."

Trainer Paul Nolan said: "It's devastating. It's very sad for his owners. He was a great horse but unfortunately that is part of the game.

"He went peacefully and, while we are all devastated, the reality of the situation is I didn't make it to Aintree because my own father is very sick at home and unfortunately it doesn't look good. We've our own worries at home and, at times like this, it provides a bit of perspective."

There was a scary moment when the Elliott-trained Escaria Ten, who finished ninth, collapsed in the cool-down area after the race but he was soon back on his feet and the trainer reported him to be fine afterwards.

"He collapsed but he is up and okay, thank God," Elliott said. "It was frightening but he's okay."

"All of mine are back safe and sound, which is the main thing. I didn't get a chance to watch the race again but Delta Work ran well [third] and maybe he'd have been a bit closer if he didn't get in close to a couple."

More 2022 Grand National reaction:

Race report: Grand National fairytale as 50-1 Noble Yeats wins for retiring Sam Waley-Cohen

'This is just the stuff of dreams' – Emmet Mullins shock at Grand National win

'I've no regrets over selling Noble Yeats – it's my best day in racing'

'He wasn't popular at all' – Noble Yeats a big winner for the bookies

2022 Grand National result: where your horse finished and who won

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