Neptune Collonges beat Sunnyhillboy in the closest-ever finish to win a dramatic Grand National at Aintree but the race was marred by two horse deaths.The grey, a 33-1 chance ridden by Daryl Jacob, got up in the last stride to win after a photo finish and give champion trainer Paul Nicholls his first win in the big race in 53 runners. Katie Walsh, bidding to become the first female jockey to triumph, was third on Seabass with Cappa Bleu fourth.
Two horses — Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Synchronised and According to Pete — suffered fatal injuries. Synchronised, a stable-mate of runner-up Sunnyhillboy, had been seeking to become the first horse to complete steeplechasing’s big-race double in the same season but got loose on the way to the start after unseating champion jockey AP McCoy.— BBCSport
