Noble Yeats has won this year's Grand National - the first in front of a cheering crowd at Aintree for three years.
The seven-year-old 50-1 horse won out over two laps and 30 fences at Aintree, leaving favourite Any Second Now (15/2) in second. Delta Work (10-1) was third and Santini (33-1) fourth.
It was a dream retirement ride for amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen, 39, riding a horse owned by his father Robert Waley-Cohen and trained by Emmet Mullins - watched by stars and royalty, including the duch*ess of Cornwall.
Last year's winner Minella Times ridden by Rachael Blackmore fell early in the world's most famous steeplechase.
Noble Yeats was second-last at the first fence but over four and a quarter miles won out by about three lengths.
It is the first time a seven-year-old horse has won the race since 1940.
Talking to ITV Racing, Waley-Cohen, who works full-time as a dentist, said: "It's a dream. I couldn't believe it. I've got to say thank you, as it's my last ever ride, to my dad, for unwavering belief and love.
More on Grand National
- Grand National: Changes being made in an attempt to make popular horse race safer
- Scottish Grand National protests: 25 arrests after disruption at Ayr racecourse
- Grand National: Protesters are to blame for my horse's death, trainer claims
Related Topics:
- Grand National
"Over 23 years and never a cross word, never been anything but a dream. It's been a love affair. To my wife, long-suffering, they aren't all good days, there are bad days in this sport."
What did we learn from the 2022 National?
By Nick Powell, sports editor, in Aintree
The crowds were back after COVID – a sell-out 70,000 of them on Grand National day – and as so often the story they went home with was not the one they’d been talking about before the race.
"It's a fantasy, it's a fairytale," said Sam Waley-Cohen after his breath-taking triumph aboard Noble Yeats on his final ride before retirement.
Equally astonishingly, it was victory for trainer Emmet Mullins, 32, on his first attempt at the Aintree showpiece. His Uncle Willie and a host of more vaunted trainers were left to pick up the pieces.
A repeat of Rachael Blackmore's triumph on Minella Times in last year's ghostly quiet race always seemed a long shot, with 15lb more weight to carry. So it proved, and long before the finish the much-fancied grey mare Snow Leopardess was pulled up.
Waley-Cohen's triumph – the first here for an amateur rider since 1990 - was vindication of his father's judgement. Robert Waley-Cohen always ignored critics who suggested he replace Sam with a professional jockey for big races.
And what an eye for a horse - he bought Noble Yeats only six weeks ago.
What do we learn from the 2022 National?
First, that Liverpool's love for the race is undimmed. The crowds were thrilled and relieved to be back for the first time in three years. The National contributes £10m to the local economy, according to Liverpool Council.
Second, racing has a rare capacity for enabling men and women, amateurs and professionals to compete on the biggest stage, if they're good enough. After the first female jockey success last year, now an amateur claiming the glory.
And thirdly, if you like a flutter, don't worry about what everyone else is saying. "Noble Yeats was almost friendless among punters," said Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes.
Will trainer Emmet enter the horse again next year? "He'll be there or thereabouts."
Robert Waley-Cohen, the horse's owner and father of the jockey, said: "It's a dream come true. I can't speak, I shouted too much!
Advertisem*nt
"You can't go round without the horse but the horse can't get round without the jockey. Sam used to ride the National on his rocking horse, that's how far back it goes!"
It was the first Grand National runner for trainer Mullins, who said: "There was a long-term plan and it seems to have come off.
"A month ago we were probably more confident but the more it went on, other people's chances were being talked up and we went a bit cold. But we knew the form was there," Mr Mullins added.
