Guide to Grand National Runners 2013
Your guide to all the runners in the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree.
Your guide to all the runners in the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree.
Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins is to sing the national anthem at the 2013 Grand National.
Tickets for next year's Grand National meeting have gone on sale, following a record attendance at the 2012 event earlier this year.
After his victory at the Grand National Ryan Mania said: "There's no words to describe it, I got a dream ride all the way - I couldn't believe my luck. I couldn't fault the old horse.
"He was second in the Scottish National last year and I thought I should stay loyal to him and thank God I did. I never really had an anxious moment, he made a couple of mistakes, that's all."
Ryan Mania added: "I knew he was capable, even though he hadn't been running well. This is always his time of year, but you couldn't be confident. Two years ago I gave up for six months because the rides had dried up, but Sue and Harvey took me in.
"I realise this will change my life, but I can't go too mad tonight because I am at Hexham tomorrow."
Speaking to Channel 4 Racing, the trainer of runner up Cappa Blue, Evan Williams said:
I can't put into words what the race means to us. It's fantastic to be here with horse that can compete and to be second to legend like Sue and Harvey Smith, if we had to finish second I couldn't think of better people to finish second to.
There was a fair degree of confidence flowing through our veins, we thought everything was right, and I'd gone through things 20 times, and I couldn't find the winner!
Speaking to Channel 4 Racing, winning trainer Sue Smith said:
He's a grand little horse and you can ride him anywhere, anyhow. We knew there was a strong possibility he'd get the trip and the ground is in his favour today and he has no weight on. Man's given him an absolutely wonderful ride - what more can I say!
Yesterday, the winning jockey of today's Grand National Ryan Mania tweeted he was "worth a bet".
Auroras Encore, trained by Sue Smith and ridden by Ryan Mania, has won the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree, at 66-1.
Liverpool One shopping centre said its stores had sold 2,000 litres of fake tan, 10,000 bags and 38,700 pairs of stilettos this week ahead of Ladies' Day at the Grand National meeting.