How the 2022 Grand National at Aintree unfolded

Noble Yeats, a 50-1 chance, wona typically enthralling Grand National at Aintree on Saturday under amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen, who was having his final ride before retirement. Here's how it happened.

2022 Randox Grand National at Aintree: full result and race replay

Clean start

The 40-runner field were asked to take a turn by the starter, but they came together in fine order and there were no false dawns as Longhouse Poet nosed ahead on the run to the first, which claimed dark horse Enjoy D'Allen and jockey Conor Orr.

Mount Ida was another victim when giving Denis O'Regan absolutely no chance and the second was first jumped by Two For Gold, whose rider David Bass lacks nothing in the boldness department.

The 2022 Grand National field set off towards the first fenceCredit: Edward Whitaker

Surf's out

Nothing departed at that obstacle, which Sam Waley-Cohen, who has a fine record around the National course, jumped closer to the back than front on Noble Yeats.

'No amateur has a better CV' – Barry Geraghty leads praise for Sam Waley-Cohen

Eclair Surf, a last-minute starter after defections on Thursday morning, came to grief falling at the third and that mishap brought down Anibale Fly, while Coko Beach was soon taking them along in company with Two For Gold, Longhouse Poet and Cloth Cap.

Times up for Blackmore

The Canal Turn claimed Run Wild Fred, Death Duty and De Rasher Counter and there was to be no fairytale repeat for Rachael Blackmore and Minella Times, who fell at Valentine's, which is the ninth of the 30 most famous fences in horseracing.

Still more towards the rear than the fore, Waley-Cohen, sporting his family's distinctive brown and orange silks, seemed to be enjoying a fine spin on Noble Yeats, who was representing the shrewd Emmet Mullins, a rising force of the training ranks.

Plenty of runners – 27 – were still in contention before the Chair, the 15th fence of the Grand NationalCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Snow fades

Many of the field – 27 – still stood approaching the 15th fence, which is the Chair, but it was not comfortable for Domaine De L'Isle, who exited along with Burrows Saint and Kildisart.

By that stage, Noble Yeats had been smuggled into contention up the inner by his amateur jockey, who was having his final ride.

Headline writers might have begun to ponder a cracking last chapter to his career, but the story of Snow Leopardess, the mare who gave birth to a foal in 2019, did not have a glorious ending as she was pulled up prior to the 17th.

Heating up

The 19th fence, an open ditch, was bypassed by the field, which was headed by Two For Gold as they angled right, but it had little impact on Noble Yeats or Any Second Now, last year's third who began to make progress for Mark Walsh.

Jack Kennedy might not have initially got the same fluent tune out of Delta Work, but he started to hit the right notes too.

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

Plenty in with a chance

Freewheelin Dylan, 150-1 of last year's Irish Grand National, was probably just ahead approaching five out, but plenty had chances two from home, including Santini, another to have crept away quietly.

Six horses – Any Second Now, Fiddlerontheroof, Delta Work, Freewheelin Dylan, Noble Yeats and Longhouse Poet – jumped the second-last almost in line, but the 50-1 winner appeared to have plenty in the tank, despite being headed by Any Second Now as they touched down after the final fence.

Any Second Now (left) and Noble Yeats jump the last fenceCredit: Shaun Botterill (Getty Images)

Part-timer hits jackpot

Walsh and his mount – trained by the unrelated Ted Walsh – were not flinching either, but the last 150 yards resulted in Noble Yeats finding another gear to draw away from his rival, who went off the 15-2 favourite.

Delta Work and Santini, third and second to the long-absent Topofthegame in the 2019 RSA, were next, followed by Fiddlerontheroof and Longhouse Poet, but the day belonged to a part-time jockey, whose CV also includes winning an epic Cheltenham Gold Cup on Long Run in 2011.

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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