There was a pulsating climax to the four-and-a-half-mile marathon, with Neptune Collonges (33-1) getting up by a nose in the hands of Daryl Jacob to give champion trainer Nicholls his first National victory, and with it surely sealing another trainers' title.

Jonjo O'Neill's Sunnyhillboy was the horse denied under Richie McLernon and while that was a disappointment for connections, there was devastating news to come after his stablemate Synchronised's fatality was confirmed.

Tony McCoy's mount got loose before the start, but the partnership was soon intact, only to make it as far as Becher's Brook, the sixth fence.

Malcolm Jefferson's According To Pete was reported as another fatality later in the race.