PINEAU DE RE saw off the challenge of 39 other horses to win the Aintree Grand National this afternoon, romping home in front of Balthazar King and the race favourite Double Seven, the mount of Tony McCoy.
As all around him were losing theirs, Leighton Aspell kept his head and was never going to be caught after clearing the last.
Aspell was only given the ride after regular jockey Sam Twiston-Davis chose to ride Tidal Bay instead.
Pineau de Re, trained by Dr. Richard Newland — who up to last year was working as a GP — led home 17 other finishers and early indications are that no horse was injured for the second year running.
As is traditional at this stage, there was a false start at the first attempt to get the race underway and, second time around, Battle Group decided he didn’t fancy the 30 jumps and refused to race.
Twirling Magnet was the first faller of the day, going at the first and was joined by Burton Port and Big Shu at the second and third respectively.
If you were reading TheScore.ie this morning, you would have seen that Pineau de Re was one of the three long-shots tipped by Niall Kelly.
Aintree Grand National Result:
1st: Pineau De Re 25/1
2nd: Balthazar King 14/1
3rd: Double Seven 11/1
4th: Alvarado 33/1
5th: Rocky Creek 16/1
