Tiger Roll wins the 171st Grand National at Aintree
Tiger Roll and Davy Russell held on to claim a dramatic victory in the Grand National at Aintree.
Gordon Elliott's eight-year-old landed his third Cheltenham Festival success in the Cross-Country Chase last month, to go with previous victories in the Triumph Hurdle and National Hunt Chase, and was among the market principals for the world's most famous steeplechase.
Russell cut a confident figure throughout the four-and-a-quarter-mile contest on the 10-1 shot and cruised to the front in the home straight.
But just when he looked to have victory sewn up, the Willie Mullins-trained Pleasant Company, who had been ridden prominently and jumped boldly, came with a late rattle to almost join him on the line.
However, after a brief wait the judge confirmed Tiger Roll the narrow winner.
Finish Line
1st: Tiger Roll (10/1)
2nd: Pleasant Company (33/1)
3rd: Bless the Wings (40/1)
4th: Anibale Fly (10/1)
Bless The Wings, the winner's stablemate was third, and Anibale Fly was fourth, as Irish runners dominated.
Russell dedicated his victory to leading Flat jockey Pat Smullen, who was diagnosed with a tumour last month.
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He told ITV Racing: "I was afraid he wouldn't take to it as he's very economical with his jumping. They've done a marvellous job with this horse.
"This one is for Pat Smullen. I was speaking to him the other morning and he's as tough as nails.
"I really don't know what to say."
Elliott added: "It's unbelievable. Tiger Roll is a yard favourite. It's great for the yard, for Gigginstown (House Stud, owners), for everyone."
Elliott launched his career when Silver Birch became his first ever winner as a trainer in the 2007 Grand National.
Previous winners
| Year | Winner | Price |
| 1839 | Lottery | 5/1 F |
| 1840 | Jerry | 12/1 |
| 1841 | Charity | 14/1 |
| 1842 | Gaylad | 7/1 |
| 1843 | Vanguard | 12/1 |
| 1844 | Discount | 5/1 JF |
| 1845 | Cure-All | |
| 1846 | Pioneer | |
| 1847 | Mathew | 10/1 |
| 1848 | Chandler | 12/1 |
| 1849 | Peter Simple | 20/1 |
| 1850 | Abd-El-Kader | |
| 1851 | Abd-El-Kader | 7/1 |
| 1852 | Miss Mowbray | |
| 1853 | Peter Simple | 9/1 |
| 1854 | Bourton | 4/1 F |
| 1855 | Wanderer | 25/1 |
| 1856 | Freetrader | 25/1 |
| 1857 | Emigrant | 10/1 |
| 1858 | Little Charley | 100/6 |
| 1859 | Half Caste | 7/1 |
| 1860 | Anatis | 7/2 F |
| 1861 | Jealousy | 5/1 |
| 1862 | The Huntsman | 3/1 F |
| 1863 | Emblem | 4/1 |
| 1864 | Emblematic | 10/1 |
| 1865 | Alcibiade | 100/7 |
| 1866 | Salamander | 40/1 |
| 1867 | Cortolvin | 16/1 |
| 1868 | The Lamb | 9/1 |
| 1869 | The Colonel | 100/7 |
| 1870 | The Colonel | 7/2 F |
| 1871 | The Lamb | 11/2 |
| 1872 | Casse Tete | 20/1 |
| 1873 | Disturbance | 20/1 |
| 1874 | Reugny | 5/1 F |
| 1875 | Pathfinder | 100/6 |
| 1876 | Regal | 25/1 |
| 1877 | Austerlitz | 15/1 |
| 1878 | Shifnal | 7/1 |
| 1879 | The Liberator | 5/1 |
| 1880 | Empress | 8/1 |
| 1881 | Woodbrook | 11/2 JF |
| 1882 | Seaman | 10/1 |
| 1883 | Zoedone | 100/7 |
| 1884 | Voluptuary | 10/1 |
| 1885 | Roquefort | 10/3 F |
| 1886 | Old Joe | 25/1 |
| 1887 | Gamecock | 20/1 |
| 1888 | Playfair | 40/1 |
| 1889 | Frigate | 8/1 |
| 1890 | Ilex | 4/1 F |
| 1891 | Come Away | 4/1 F |
| 1892 | Father O'Flynn | 20/1 |
| 1893 | Cloister | 9/2 F |
| 1894 | Why Not | 5/1 JF |
| 1895 | Wild Man From Borneo | 10/1 |
| 1896 | The Soarer | 40/1 |
| 1897 | Manifesto | 6/1 F |
| 1898 | Drogheda | 25/1 |
| 1899 | Manifesto | 5/1 |
| 1900 | Ambush II | 4/1 |
| 1901 | Grudon | 9/1 |
| 1902 | Shannon Lass | 20/1 |
| 1903 | Drumcree | 13/2 F |
| 1904 | Moifaa | 25/1 |
| 1905 | Kirkland | 6/1 |
| 1906 | Ascetic's Silver | 20/1 |
| 1907 | Eremon | 8/1 |
| 1908 | Rubio | 66/1 |
| 1909 | Lutteur III | 100/9 |
| 1910 | Jenkinstown | 100/8 |
| 1911 | Glenside | 20/1 |
| 1912 | Jerry M | 4/1 JF |
| 1913 | Covertcoat | 100/9 |
| 1914 | Sunloch | 100/6 |
| 1915 | Ally Sloper | 100/8 |
| 1916–18 | No race | |
| 1919 | Poethlyn | 11/4 F |
| 1920 | Troytown | 6/1 |
| 1921 | Shaun Spadah | 100/9 |
| 1922 | Music Hall | 100/9 |
| 1923 | Sergeant Murphy | 100/6 |
| 1924 | Master Robert | 25/1 |
| 1925 | Double Chance | 100/9 |
| 1926 | Jack Horner | 25/1 |
| 1927 | Sprig | 8/1 F |
| 1928 | Tipperary Tim | 100/1 |
| 1929 | Gregalach | 100/1 |
| 1930 | Shaun Goilin | 100/8 |
| 1931 | Grakle | 100/6 |
| 1932 | Forbra | 50/1 |
| 1933 | Kellsboro' Jack | 25/1 |
| 1934 | Golden Miller | 8/1 |
| 1935 | Reynoldstown | 22/1 |
| 1936 | Reynoldstown | 10/1 |
| 1937 | Royal Mail | 100/6 |
| 1938 | Battleship | 40/1 |
| 1939 | Workman | 100/8 |
| 1940 | Bogskar | 25/1 |
| 1941–45 | No race | |
| 1946 | Lovely Cottage | 25/1 |
| 1947 | Caughoo | 100/1 |
| 1948 | Sheila's Cottage | 50/1 |
| 1949 | Russian Hero | 66/1 |
| 1950 | Freebooter | 10/1 F |
| 1951 | Nickel Coin | 40/1 |
| 1952 | Teal | 100/7 |
| 1953 | Early Mist | 20/1 |
| 1954 | Royal Tan | 8/1 |
| 1955 | Quare Times | 100/9 |
| 1956 | E.S.B. | 100/7 |
| 1957 | Sundew | 20/1 |
| 1958 | Mr. What | 18/1 |
| 1959 | Oxo | 8/1 |
| 1960 | Merryman II | 13/2 F |
| 1961 | Nicolaus Silver | 28/1 |
| 1962 | Kilmore | 28/1 |
| 1963 | Ayala | 66/1 |
| 1964 | Team Spirit | 18/1 |
| 1965 | Jay Trump | 100/6 |
| 1966 | Anglo | 50/1 |
| 1967 | Foinavon | 100/1 |
| 1968 | Red Alligator | 100/7 |
| 1969 | Highland Wedding | 100/9 |
| 1970 | Gay Trip | 15/1 |
| 1971 | Specify | 28/1 |
| 1972 | Well to Do | 14/1 |
| 1973 | Red Rum | 9/1 JF |
| 1974 | Red Rum | 11/1 |
| 1975 | L'Escargot | 13/2 |
| 1976 | Rag Trade | 14/1 |
| 1977 | Red Rum | 9/1 |
| 1978 | Lucius | 14/1 |
| 1979 | Rubstic | 25/1 |
| 1980 | Ben Nevis | 40/1 |
| 1981 | Aldaniti | 10/1 |
| 1982 | Grittar | 7/1 F |
| 1983 | Corbiere | 13/1 |
| 1984 | Hallo Dandy | 13/1 |
| 1985 | Last Suspect | 50/1 |
| 1986 | West Tip | 15/2 |
| 1987 | Maori Venture | 28/1 |
| 1988 | Rhyme 'n' Reason | 10/1 |
| 1989 | Little Polveir | 28/1 |
| 1990 | Mr Frisk | 16/1 |
| 1991 | Seagram | 12/1 |
| 1992 | Party Politics | 14/1 |
| 1993 | Race void | |
| 1994 | Miinnehoma | 16/1 |
| 1995 | Royal Athlete | 40/1 |
| 1996 | Rough Quest | 7/1 F |
| 1997 | Lord Gyllene | 14/1 |
| 1998 | Earth Summit | 7/1 F |
| 1999 | Bobbyjo | 10/1 |
| 2000 | Papillon | 10/1 |
| 2001 | Red Marauder | 33/1 |
| 2002 | Bindaree | 20/1 |
| 2003 | Monty's Pass | 16/1 |
| 2004 | Amberleigh House | 16/1 |
| 2005 | Hedgehunter | 7/1 F |
| 2006 | Numbersixvalverde | 11/1 |
| 2007 | Silver Birch | 33/1 |
| 2008 | Comply or Die | 7/1 JF |
| 2009 | Mon Mome | 100/1 |
| 2010 | Don't Push It | 10/1 JF |
| 2011 | Ballabriggs | 14/1 |
| 2012 | Neptune Collonges | 33/1 |
| 2013 | Auroras Encore | 66/1 |
| 2014 | Pineau De Re | 25/1 |
| 2015 | Many Clouds | 25/1 |
| 2016 | Rule The World | 33/1 |
| 2017 | One For Arthur | 14/1 |
| 2018 | Tiger Roll | 10/1 |