Grand National 2015 results: Many Clouds wins in thrilling finish as its Groundhog Day for disbelieving Leighton Aspell

Many Clouds beat Saint Are into second with Monbeg Dude third while AP McCoy was only able to finish fifth on Shutthefrontdoor

Many Clouds and Leighton Aspell win the Grand National (Getty Images)

At the finish, the victorious Many Clouds had to be removed to the shade and hosed down with cold water after his exertions had placed him in danger of overheating. Looking at his jockey Leighton Aspell and trainer Oliver Sherwood, you suspect they could well have benefited from similar treatment after their horse secured the £1million event.

Jockeys simply don’t win successive Grand Nationals on different horses, or not in the memory of most of the sell-out crowd here – the last was Bryan Marshall in the early fifties – and Sherwood, in four previous attempts to win the race, had never seen one of his charges complete this most demanding of examinations.

Fell 1st, pulled up 18th, refused 27th and fell 1st had been the Lambourn trainer’s miserably undistinguished record until Saturday, when the eight-year-old Many Clouds, who had exhibited his class when winning this season’s Hennessy Gold Cup, but had been a disappointing sixth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, rewarded him with his first National win. It was Aspell’s second victory in the race, following his triumph on Pineau De Re last year.

The partnership, owned by Trevor Hemmings, at one time the owner of Pontins and Blackpool Tower, and now a three-time winning National owner, started at 25-1. He finished one and three quarter-lengths clear of the Paddy Brennan-ridden, Tom George-trained 25-1 runner-up Saint Are. Liam Treadwell, the 2009 winning jockey, was third on Michael Scudamore at 40-1, with Fergal O’Brien’s 20-1 Alvarado, ridden by Paul Moloney, fourth.

All prices to delight the bookmakers, not least because Tony McCoy, in his last National expedition, could manage only fifth on 6-1 favourite Shutthefrontdoor.

Many Clouds leads Shutthefrontdoor on the way to Grand National glory (Getty Images)

“What do I know about horses?” reflected Sherwood with mock-chastisement of himself. “I personally felt it was a year too soon [to run in the National]. I just can’t believe it. He was foot-perfect, I don’t think that he made a mistake – I can’t believe that it’s happened, I really cannot believe it.

“It was Trevor’s decision. I said: ‘the horse is healthy, he’s fit, he’s well and, if you want to run, we will run’. It was his decision to run, end of story. It wasn’t my decision, so he must get all the credit, not me.”

Eight years ago, Aspell, a journeyman of his trade and never a man to remotely threaten the domination of McCoy, announced his retirement. He had become disillusioned and accepted a role with the distinguished Flat trainer John Dunlop for 18 months, intending to become an assistant. He returned to the saddle in 2009, realising that he “still had some fire in his belly” and admitting he missed the camaraderie of the weighing room and the thrill of race riding.

“It all went well,” said Aspell. “I had a good start, and got in behind Alvarado and AP [McCoy] on a good jumper. We knew he could jump, so I wanted to be patient. I gave him a small squeeze at the Canal Turn and then had a lovely smooth ride. Last year, I was shell-shocked and had to work hard at various points. This time I was going very well from the second time at Beecher’s and was always hopeful from then.”

Many Clouds leads Shutthefrontdoor and Soll (Getty Images)

You’re a long time retired. Maybe that’s something Tony McCoy, 40, should reflect on after witnessing what Aspell, only two years younger than him, has produced since his return to the saddle. Could the turf prove too magnetic for him to depart, too, when he quits in a fortnight’s time at Sandown?

The ‘Thank you AP’ Signature wall, a giant retirement card, contained such messages as “Best of luck” followed by the after-thought “Win us some money” and “Loved the broken bones of yer”. But the final day had to be postponed.

Never mind the Hatton Garden heist. The bookies were braced for the equine equivalent, albeit a legal one, if McCoy had prevailed. Bookmakers always plead penury if a certain horse wins, of course, the world will end tomorrow.

Yet, it was estimated that £150m was gambled on yesterday’s showpiece and a good proportion went on McCoy’s mount. Bookmakers excitedly contended that Shutthefrontdoor could start shorter than Red Rum at 7-2 in 1975 when he was defeated by L’Escargot. In fact, his SP was plenty short enough – according to the 19-times champion jockey.

One win in 19 starts for McCoy on Don’t Push It in 2010 should have been warning enough for his supporters. McCoy’s enthusiasm was laced with doubts. “He’s not a brilliant jumper, but he’s OK,” he had said. “At around 7-1, he doesn’t represent value, but he ticks a lot of boxes.”

AP McCoy congratulates Leighton Aspell on his Grand National victory (Getty Images)

This was a race when just about every horse ticked all the right boxes. The only box that no trainer can tick is “certain to negotiate the obstacles”, and frequently after being impeded by opponents. Many anticipated that Nina Carberry, daughter of Tommy, who won the 1975 National on L’Escargot, and sister of three jockeys, and married to Ted Walsh Jnr, and sister-in-law to Ruby and Katie, could become the first amateur since Marcus Armytage on Mr Frisk in 1990, and more significantly, the first woman to prevail. Two early mistakes did for her chances on First Lieutenant, but they finished.

Twenty fell by the wayside, and there were concerns regarding the well-fancied Philip Hobbs-trained Balthazar King, who fell at the eighth. He was receiving treatment at the University of Liverpool. Equine Hospital.

Oscar Time jumps over the Open Ditch

Results:

1st Many Clouds 25/1

2nd Saint Are 25-1 1 3/4 Lengths

3rd Mondbeg Dude 40-1 6 Lengths

4th Alvarado 20-1 3 1/2 Lengths

5th Shutthefrontdoor 6-1Fav 1 1/2 Lengths

6th Royale Knight 25-1 2 1/4 Lengths

7th Tranquil Sea 33-1 10 Lengths

8th Cause Of Causes 14-1 2 1/4 Lengths

9th Soll 9-1 14 Lengths

10th Chance Du Roy 40-1 10 Lengths

11th Mon Parrain 33-1 5 Lengths

12th Pineau De Re 25-1 1 1/2 Lengths

13th Owega Star 50-1 6 Lengths

14th Spring Heeled 25-1 25 Lengths

15th Oscar Time 20-1 2 1/2 Lengths

16th First Lieutenant 14-1 3 3/4 Lengths

17th Rocky Creek 8-1 5 Lengths

18th Night In Milan 20-1 2 1/2 Lengths

19th Dolatulo 66-1 3 1/4 Lengths