AINTREE 17:15 532c1o

All 40 ran. Fences: 29.

Time: 9m 1.5s Closing Sectional: (6.28f): 92.6s (106.9%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 163%, Betfair SP 101.7%

The unfortunate incident that claimed the life of Up For Review at the very first fence thankfully didn't set the tone for a Grand National that otherwise was notable for its lack of incident as well as its obvious significance in a historical context, only 6 of the non-completers either falling or unseating compared to 14 pulling up and, in an unprecented sequence, fences 2 to 18 ing entirely free of departures, almost half the field negotiating the course and the identity of the principals indicative of the seemingly ever-rising quality these days, the first 6 home including not only the first back-to-back winner since Red Rum in 1974 but the highest-placed mare since 18 years further back than that, plus the title holder before Tiger Roll, winners of the Becher and Bobbyjo and no less than the Gold Cup runner-up; it wasn't the lung-bursting affair it normally is, with nothing haring off and so many still going by the time the field had to squeeze around the dolled-off fence that had been the first, double figures still there with some hope as they turned in before stamina and sheer ability did finally begin to tell, a wide route as well as hold-up rides not paying dividends.

TIGER ROLL (IRE) added the most significant layer yet to a career as unconventional as it has been stellar, a Darley cast-off who started with success in a Market Rasen juvenile hurdle in the same season he captured the Triumph Hurdle (itself hardly the breeding ground of a long-distance specialist, save for such as Commanche Court), not on the same level as staying greats like Best Mate or, certainly, Kauto Star but still a genuinely top-class chaser fully deserving of mention in the same breath for his achievements and the rightly revered qualities above and beyond pure form, just 3 weeks earlier putting himself in a select group of 4-time Cheltenham Festival winners and ing an even more exclusive club with this second successive Grand National victory following numerous failed attempts from others since Red Rum in 1974, Tiger Roll not quite in that bracket of Aintree folklore yet - the quality of rival is far higher these days but the test much more forgiving - but still sufficiently young to believe he'll have another live chance in 2020 when bidding to set himself apart as the first ever to complete a Grand National hat-trick; as last year, moments of concern were at a minimum, pecks on landing at both the twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth soon shrugged aside as he continued to travel powerfully in touch and moved ahead still on the bridle at the last, bursting clear as he had done 12 months earlier but with nothing rallying strongly enough to erode his advantage this time, the front trio ending up well clear in arguably the strongest piece of National form - and indeed a National winning performance matched only by Many Clouds - in modern times, given the CVs of those in his wake; incidentally, this represented a third win in 4 years for a Gigginstown operation with such depth of high-calibre talent that they were responsible for over a fifth of the field, even after the sale of Don Poli and Outlander in the days leading up, yet Tiger Roll himself had an early background entirely at odds with most of their stock.

MAGIC OF LIGHT (IRE) got back on the up on the biggest stage possible, a performance with real historical weight as she became a rare mare to hit the frame in this, matching Tiberetta's achievement in 1958 by finding only one too good, bettering the exploits of such pre-eminent names of the same sex in the interim as Ebony Jane and Dubacilla; she took extremely well to the track, save for a blunder at The Chair, going with bags of zest up with the pace, jumping on at second Valentine's and still there until Tiger Roll came past at the last, a mistake there not preventing her from rallying gamely to hold a clear second; this puts her right in the upper echelons in the mares ranks, graded races to be won with her in 2019/20 in receipt of her sex allowance assuming she comes back with her enthusiasm intact.

RATHVINDEN (IRE) no conventional 11-y-o, confirmed he's returned better than ever, taking the same path as Mullins' previous winner of this (Hedgehunter) and getting the right 'Aintree' ride despite taking a couple of chances along the way, probably third best on the day all the same behind a National great and a runner-up who took to the test like an old hand rather than a first-timer; settled mid-field early, headway to lead soon after seventh, mistake water jump, ed tenth, upsides until twelfth, jumped on again eighteenth, headed when mistake twenty-fourth (second Valentine's), stayed on under pressure straight.

WALK IN THE MILL (FR) fitter for a recent spin over timber, underlined the suitability of this track as he hit the frame, emerging with far more credit in this than most Becher winners have managed, doing just about enough to prove his stamina for the marathon trip, though softer ground might have found him out that bit more; tracked pace, pressed leader twentieth, lost momentum Canal Turn, rallied entering straight, no extra well inside final 1f.

ANIBALE FLY (FR) had improved his Gold Cup position from a year previous by one but went the opposite way in this after his fourth in 2018, a mere 3-week turnaround compared to last season perhaps insufficient rest to put an edge back on him, either way another on the week to provide a knock to the Gold Cup form for all he largely shaped as if still in good heart; patiently ridden, hit fourteenth, pushed along before straight, stayed on all too gradually.

ONE FOR ARTHUR (IRE) might well have fulfilled the record-breaking role reserved for Tiger Roll had things gone better for him since his impressive 2017 success, robbed of a chance at defending his crown by injury last season yet leaving the firm impression all his powers are intact, a performance worth vast credit considering the backdrop as well as the way his race went, the tactics adopted for his success backfiring - as they so often do around here - this time around; dropped out, well off pace still 3 out, good progress forced wide home turn, went fourth run-in before huge effort flattened out; assuming he gets a clearer run at his racing, he'll return with frame claims in 2020.

REGAL ENCORE (IRE) proved he retains the bulk of his ability after 7 weeks off, bettering by one his placing in this on his first crack in 2017, albeit beaten a similarly long distance as his stamina ebbed; jumped soundly, settled mid-field on inner, close up approaching straight, ridden from 2 out, effort flattened out.

SINGLEFARMPAYMENT ran about as well as could be expected, his ability, mark and trademark waiting tactics all against him; dropped out, pecked second Becher's Brook, crept closer before 3 out, ridden before straight, no further impression.

OUTLANDER (IRE) without usual headgear on his first outing since a well-documented (and expensive) eleventh-hour purchase from Gordon Elliott, saw things out better than might have been expected upped to a marathon trip but still didn't land a blow from a fair way back, his attitude typically lacking; patiently ridden, baulked second Canal Turn, ridden when carried head awkwardly straight, plugged on run-in; it'll take some smart placing to see him recoup even most of connections' outlay.

VALSEUR LIDO (FR) without the headgear this time, showed aptitude for these fences for the second time in as many attempts before the extreme trip probably found him out again, by no means the first time this season he's hinted at still having something to offer despite his lengthy losing run; mid-field, ridden after 3 out, still just about in touch home turn before effort flattened out.

LIVELOVELAUGH (IRE) shaped much better than the bare result, taking extremely well to the fences but predictably failing for stamina (hadn't seen out even 3m the time before), the run screaming 'Topham' for next season; handy, jumped well in main, yet to be asked for effort when crossing 3 out, fourth home turn, faltered straight; whatever goes on between now and next April, he'll be of serious interest in the shorter-distance race over the National fences at this meeting.

A TOI PHIL (FR) out twice over hurdles prior to this but without it smacking of a pointed Grand National prep, did enough to suggest he remains in form for all he never landed a blow under a patient ride, the fences not causing him a problem.

BLESS THE WINGS (IRE) finished much further down the field than last year (when beaten around 11 lengths by Tiger Roll) but actually gave more cause for encouragement than for a while; dropped out, hampered Canal Turn, crept closer 4 out, ridden approaching straight, not see race out; despite this more positive step, retirement now beckons.

ULTRAGOLD (FR) was ridden more patiently in an apparent - and, as so often, vain - attempt at getting the much longer trip but it didn't work, settled mid-field, shaken up after 3 out and making little impression even before the extra distance probably told.

VIEUX LION ROUGE (FR) hasn't gone on from his reappearance second in the Becher here, not getting far enough into this fourth crack at the race to lay the blame purely at lack of stamina for once; tracked pace out wide until halfway, rallied second Canal Turn, dropped away before straight.

CAPTAIN REDBEARD (IRE) jumped better than in 2 previous visits here but that couldn't mask his blatant stamina limitations, shaping better than the distance beaten suggests after looking sixth/seventh best for a long way; mid-field, badly hampered first, settled in touch on inner, in contention still home turn, weakened.

FOLSOM BLUE (IRE) back under less testing conditions, was never involved 3 weeks on from a s the Midlands version, lacking the enthusiasm if not stamina to thrive in this scenario.

VALTOR (FR) was held back by his jumping more than the extreme distance, not that he promised to relish the increased test of stamina in any case; mid-division, lost place when blundered second Canal Turn, mistake again 4 out, beaten before straight.

DON POLI (IRE) gave his ambitious new connections some early hope retried in headgear on his first outing since leaving Gordon Elliott for a 6-figure sum but had dropped to rear early on the final circuit, not cut out for this sort of test even in his prime (looks a shadow of that now).

VINTAGE CLOUDS (IRE) was one of several who made appeal, but he overjumped at the first and crumpled on landing, bringing down the ill-fated Up For Review.

GENERAL PRINCIPLE (IRE) already had a big National (Irish version) on his record but would have finished well beaten had he completed in this one, tracking the pace until past halfway but on the retreat when barely lifting a leg at the eighteenth.

ROCK THE KASBAH (IRE) extended his high-profile rider's long wait for Grand National success, the writing on the wall right away, unwisely ridden in stark contrast to normal and blundering his way around in rear until falling, ironically, after being hampered soon after another mistake of his own at the eighteenth.

BALLYOPTIC (IRE) without a tongue tie after 7 weeks off, showed up well for a long way but had started to lose his place when falling heavily 4 out, having had to survive an early blunder at Foinavon first time around.

JURY DUTY (IRE) had yet to make his move under a patient ride when his first mistake ended his race at the eighteenth, just as things were finally beginning to take shape.

PLEASANT COMPANY (IRE) a just-failing second to Tiger Roll 12 months earlier (when hooded, unlike here), went as though he'd been brought to a peak for this again after 10 weeks off only to pay for his first error 4 out, still right there at the time having gone with enthusiasm up with the pace; he'll be one to note if taking his chance in the Irish equivalent.

UP FOR REVIEW (IRE) was brought down at the first, suffering fatal injuries.

JUST A PAR (IRE) got a place in the field as a result of Mall Dini's late injury but gave even less cause for encouragement than in the Becher here on his stable debut, always behind 4 months on.

JOE FARRELL (IRE) is better judged on not only last season's win in the Scottish version but also his recent Newbury tee-up, a wide route not the path to take, on his first experience of the fences as well; tracked pace out wide, lost place when not fluent second Foinavon, struggling from Valentine's.

BLOW BY BLOW (IRE) who'd had a breathing operation, unsurprisingly seemed averse to the experience, requiring reminders to go out on the final circuit and tailed off when belting the seventeenth.

STEP BACK (IRE) wasn't at all equipped to cope with the test, his engrained habit of jumping right giving him little hope; made most until seventh (when waywardness picked up), led again from twelfth, headed again eighteenth, lost ground quickly, tailed off when pulled up after Canal Turn.

RAMSES DE TEILLEE (FR) was found out by more than possible lack of stamina after 7 weeks off, all in all best excused this first experience of the fences after his splendidly consistent campaign on park courses; never better than mid-field and pulled up late after his jockey suspected a problem with the tack, apparenly caused by a bad error at the second Canal Turn.

TEA FOR TWO was long in the tooth to be tackling these fences for the first time and, soon in the rear group, had become tailed off before 2 out, extending a losing run dating back to the Bowl at this meeting in 2017.

NOBLE ENDEAVOR (IRE) probably just isn't the force of old for all any failed first try over these fences can normally provide a ; tracked pace until halfway, behind when pulled up 5 out.

MONBEG NOTORIOUS (IRE) hated every second of it; took little interest, lost touch long way out.

WARRIORS TALE failed to get home in 2018 but was beaten by more than the extreme distance this time around, the route around the houses not the path to take; settled mid-field out wide, shuffled back circuit out, struggling when not fluent seventeenth, next.

DOUNIKOS (FR) had already outstayed his pedigree and seemed to find this a bridge too far stamina-wise 7 weeks on from his Punchestown revival; mid-division, ridden when hampered on landing 4 out, dropped away before straight.

MINELLA ROCCO (IRE) shaped as if amiss with cheekpieces/tongue tie discarded, problems - as in the case of the same connections' once top prospect More of That - derailing a career that promised so much, only one chase win to show for it; settled mid-field out wide, took closer order thirteenth, pushed along before eighteenth, beaten quickly, pulled up twentieth.

LAKE VIEW LAD (IRE) can have a line put through this run, immediately put on the back foot by the standing start; dwelt, off pace out wide, struggling when blundered and hampered on landing 4 out.

MALA BEACH (IRE) ran poorly, an 11-y-o trying these fences for the first time; raced off the pace, struggling early final circuit.

GO CONQUER (IRE) probably simply failed to stay after 10 weeks off, having never looked a sluggard; disputed lead until second, lost place second Valentine's, no chance after.