OUTSIDER Auroras Encore produced a blinding finish to win the 166th staging of the Grand National at Aintree by nine lengths this afternoon.
The 66/1 shot, ridden by 23-year-old Grand National novice Ryan Mania, jumped the last fence brilliantly to take over the lead from Teaforthree and Oscar Time before striding home.
Cappa Bleu also overtook the tiring pair to finish in second for an improvement on his fourth place last year.
But the best news came from the fact that the race avoided the controversy of the last two years. All 40 runners returned to the stables afterwards, and there were 17 who completed the course.
Of the horses that failed to finish, only two were classed as having fallen and six unseated their rider. No fewer than 14 horses were pulled up, for which credit must go to their jockeys, although that does also suggest that the field is still too big.
At least, however, the carnage at the opening fences - a regular feature of recent Nationals - was not repeated this year.
Most probably, it was a consequence of the start being moved further away from the grandstand and closer to the first fence. Indeed, the whole field succeeded in clearing the opening seven obstacles for the first time in the race's history.
It was not until the Canal Turn that some hopes were lost, as the Rainbow Hunter, Treacle and Big Fella Thanks all unseated their riders.
By then, Balthazar King had established a narrow lead with the Walsh siblings, Ruby and Kate, on On His Own and Seabass sitting in the pack.
So, too, was Tony McCoy on Colbert Station - but the champion jockey's race did not last much longer as he came off his horse while jumping the Chair towards the end of the first circuit.
Meanwhile, as the runners crossed the Melling Road for the second time, Across The Bay had hit the front, just ahead of Richard Johnson's mount, Balthazar King.
At Becher's again, remarkably, there were no fallers although former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander was pulled up.
And so, as the field took on the back straight, it appeared as if the Walsh fairytale was still very much alive with the two siblings riding alongside one another.
Five fences from the finish, though, On His Own - the mount of two-time winner Ruby - became only the second faller of the 2013 National, Tatenen having suffered the same fate at Fence 12.
Suddenly, sister Katie was indeed, to pardon the wordplay, on her own - and just as her mount was expected to challenge, Seabass tired and struggled over the line in 13th.
At the front, Across The Bay had also faded, and a close contest had developed between Teaforthree and Oscar Time as they headed for the last of the 30 fences.
Neither of them jumped it well, however, and they stumbled over the obstacle in sharp contrast to Auroras Encore who took great momentum into the 494-yard dash for the line.
Ultimately, the 11-year-old gelding finished a comfortable nine lengths clear to the delight of young Scottish jockey Mania and trainer Sue Smith, wife of the the former Olympic showjumper, Harvey.
And so, while there may not have been a historic first female jockey winner, Smith became only the third female trainer to win the National, after two-time winner Jenny Pitman and Venetia Williams whose Mon Mome was a similar long-shot at 100/1 in 2009.
Joy, then, for the Smith stables in Bingley, west Yorkshire. Generally, though, there was also a huge sense of relief from officials at Aintree racecourse, and from Channel 4 who covered the spectacle for the first time ever.
Indeed, when Channel 4 gained the rights to broadcast the Grand National last year, it promised to "tell it like it is", even if that meant reporting on controversy and negativity.
But, instead, it has been rewarded with the surprise story of a jockey winning the world's greatest steeplechase at his very first attempt. Congratulations, Ryan Mania.
FULL GRAND NATIONAL RESULT
Going: Good to soft. 4m 3½f. All 40 ran.
1st Auroras Encore 66/1
2nd Cappa Bleu 12/1
3rd Teaforthree 10/1
4th Oscar Time 66/1
5th Rare Bob 16/1
Other finishers: 6th Swing Bill, 7th Soll, 8th Tarquinius, 9th Saint Are, 10th Always Waining, 11th Major Malarkey, 12th Join Together, 13th Seabass (11/2 fav), 14th Across The Bay, 15th Balthazar King, 16th Quiscover Fontaine, 17th Any Currency
Failed to finish:
Fence 8 (Canal Turn) The Rainbow Hunter, Treacle, Big Fella Thanks - all unseated rider
Fence 11 Ninetieth Minute - pulled up
Fence 12 Tatenen - fell
Fence 14 Viking Blond - pulled up
Fence 15 (The Chair) Colbert Station - unseated rider
Fence 17 Lost Glory - pulled up
Fence 19 Joncol, What A Friend - both pulled up
Fence 21 Becauseicouldntsee - pulled up
Fence 22 (Becher's) Imperial Commander - pulled up
Fence 23 (Foinavon) Forpadydeplasterer, Quel Esprit, Weird Al - all pulled up
Fence 24 (Canal Turn) Ballabriggs - pulled up
Fence 25 On His Own - fell, Harry The Viking - pulled up
Fence 27 Mr Moonshine - pulled up
Fence 30 Roberto Goldback, Sunnyhillboy - both unseated rider, Chicago Grey - pulled up, Mumbles Head - refused
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