Returning hero One For Arthur thrills Lucinda Russell with sixth place

For a stride or two he looked a contender, and although One For Arthur could not repeat his 2017 victory he delighted Lucinda Russell with his sixth place finish.

The ten-year-old missed the whole of last season and had not completed in two runs this term. He briefly looked like moving into contention as the leaders headed to the second-last, only to tire late on.

"I'm so proud of him after the season he's had," his trainer said. "It's not quite as good as winning but it was fantastic.

"He got tired after the last, he just couldn't stay on. But I'm delighted and he's perfect after the race. We'll get him ready for next year now, he won't run again this season."

Jockey Derek Fox added: "He didn't get a great run round, we ran into a lot of trouble and he probably got a bit tired from the back of two out. I'm delighted with him, he's a marvellous horse to have."

Tom Bellamy was left wondering what might have been after Ballyoptic fell four out when still in contention.

"It's gutting," the jockey said. "He was going well enough but the fences can catch them out when they least expect it. I think I might have been in the first six or so but it's one of those things."

Regal Encore ran a fine race to be seventh under late replacement rider Jonathan Burke, while Singlefarmpayment finished eighth for Tom George.

"He's run a hell of a race, he absolutely loved it," said George. "He jumped well but the ground was softer than ideal, which probably just took the edge off him.

"Paddy [Brennan] said he thought he was going to run into the frame, it was a good solid run. I think we'll be back, you just don't really need watering on top of good ground, that's our problem."

Vieux Lion Rouge made it seven completions from seven races over the National fences, finishing 15th under Tom Scudamore. That's 181 National fences he has jumped successfully.

"I had the usual great ride off him," the jockey said. "The same as ever, he didn't quite get home from the last, but I had a great thrill."

Lizzie Kelly, riding in the race for the first time, was happy with Tea For Two despite him pulling up before two out.

She said: "He made one mistake and then put his hind legs through the last two I jumped, and he wasn't travelling great so I pulled him up.

"Bring on next year. He took to it really nicely, I didn't want to bottom him for the sake of finishing 15th. He's home, he's in one piece, and he'll have another crack next year."

Runners clearing Bechers in the Grand NationalCredit: Grossick Photography

Very sadly not able to say the same were connections of Up For Review, who suffered a fatal injury when brought down at the first. He was the first fatality in the race since 2012.

Trained by Willie Mullins, the ten-year-old won six times, and ran in the colours of Andrea and Graham Wylie, who only last month at Cheltenham had lost Ballyward and Invitation Only to fatal falls.

Nineteen of the 40 runners got round, the last home being Don Poli, who had been purchased by Darren Yates for £170,000 on Thursday night. Rebel Racing paid £165,000 for Outlander at the same auction and he fared better, finishing ninth.

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