The Grand National always finds a way to tell a brilliant story and what a story Sam Waley-Cohen's win is.

That's all for our coverage of the racing from Aintree today. See you next time.

Read Frank Keogh's race report.

Image source, Getty Images

Sam Waley-Cohen says he had said for a decade that he would retire if he ever won the Grand National, so it is fitting it finally happened in what had already been determined his final race.

"I can't say anything, it's a dream, I couldn't believe it," he told ITV.

"I've got to say thank you - because it's my last ever ride - to dad. Unwavering belief and love, over 23 years and never a cross word. It's been a love affair.

"To my wife, long-suffering. They aren't all good days. There are bad days in this sport. She's always here to support me... It's a fairytale, it's a fantasy. Just full of love and happiness and gratefulness."

Waley-Cohen said his late brother Thomas, who died of cancer, was with him in spirit.

"I do think Thomas is sitting on my back. I ride with his name on my saddle," he added.

"Today is a family day. Honestly, you couldn't make it up, could you?"

Image source, Getty Images

Amateur Sam Waley-Cohen, who will turn 40 on Friday, only announced his retirement two days before the big race.

He had the best record over the National course of any current jockey going into the contest, with six wins in other races, and signed off with a brilliant retirement ride.

It was a first victory for an amateur jockey since Marcus Armytage won on Mr Frisk at Aintree in 1990.

Noble Yeats was bought by the jockey's father Robert Waley-Cohen two months ago.

Image source, Getty Images

The 50-1 outsider Noble Yeats won the Grand National at Aintree to give amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen a fairytale farewell in his final ride.

Waley-Cohen held off the challenge of favourite Any Second Now in a thrilling finish, with Delta Work third and Santini fourth.

Noble Yeats, trained in Ireland by Emmet Mullins, is the first horse aged seven to win since Bogskar in 1940.

It wasn't to be for pre-race favourites Minella Times, Snow Leopardess and Any Second Now in the Grand National.

Last year's winner Minella Times, ridden again by Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Rachael Blackmore, fell at the Valentine's Brook fence while Snow Leopardess pulled up before the second circuit.

Any Second Now battled with Noble Yeats for the win in a thrilling finale before the latter pulled clear.

1 Lookaway (Jack Quinlan) 28-1

2 Hullnback (P J Brennan) 16-1

3 Leave Of Absence (Joshua Moore) 8-1

18 ran

It is easy to forget among all the celebrations around the Grand National but there was one more race at Aintree, with the Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Standard Open NH Flat Race.

Lookaway has taken victory in that just now.

Polly Gundry, trainer of fourth-placed Santini: "This was such an amazing thrill with a beautiful old fashioned horse and I'm so pleased to see him come back.

"To show the courage to avoid the carnage, I feel honoured to train him.

"He got better and better as the race developed, but we are also thrilled for the Waley-Cohens who come from the point-to-point world like us. It's just a fairytale ending."

Ted Walsh, trainer of the runner-up Any Second Now, said: "To get that close, it's a sickener, but equally it's a great for the Waley Cohen family, and seeing the father going down the track to meet his son in tears.

"Mark [Walsh, jockey] said he missed the break but that he jumped and travelled well. "I thought jumping the last he might get there, but the other horse has outstayed us from the elbow.

"I've seen a lot happen from the elbow including Crisp getting caught by Red Rum.

"Unfortunately for us the post is another 100 yards away, and that's where you get paid."

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio 5 Live

Winning owner Robert Waley-Cohen speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "It is pretty astonishing. We have won so many good races, a Gold Cup, two King Georges and a lot of handicaps but that is the man over these fences.

"He [Sam] is extraordinary over these fences. If you could bottle it you would. He has around 77 wins and has never ridden more than 30 races in a year apart from twice in his career.

"He is the only amateur to win a Gold Cup and King George, twice and a Grand National. It is so extraordinary."

There were 15 finishers of the race but the Racing Post reports that all 40 runners made it back to their stables.

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Aintree

I'm sure Sam Waley-Cohen won't mind me sharing a text exchange we had on Thursday after he announced his forthcoming retirement.

He was pretty confident of a big run from Noble Yeats...

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, PA Media

Fascinating to watch the race back with Noble Yeats nowhere at the start. The 50-1 shot had drifted to second last after the first fence but slowly moved back through the field and was mid-division at halfway.

Minella Times fell at Valentine's while Snow Leopardess pulled up after 17 fences with Noble Yeats into a good position by that point.

With two fences to go there were six runners in with a chance but Two For Gold, out in front for so long, pulled up at the penultimate fence and then it was between Noble Yeats and Any Second Now going to the last.

Noble Yeats then took the inside at the Elbow and from then on it was victory all the way.

"He was happy in space and ironically he had more space on the inside," Sam Waley-Cohen told ITV. "You keep going and keep asking."

BBC Radio 5 Live

Winning jockey Sam Waley-Cohen speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "I am so choked up. It is a dream, a fantasy, something I could never have imagined. You go to sleep hoping, you wake up to a cold wet morning and reality.

"It is unbelievable and I have to thank so many people because it has been a love affair. It has been hope beyond pragmatism really.

"Could have gone lots of different routes, people said Noble Yeats, too young and too inexperienced but dad has always wanted to take chances and it has paid off.

"Early on he was really outpaced and I thought I'd try and keep the bit in his mouth fill him up with confidence but he started jumping really neatly and I thought he is travelling here. I got a really nice run around the inside and he started to go forward and he suddenly opened up into a bit of space.

"When he jumped over the second last he was low and quick. Last jump was nice. I felt the other horse and thought I had gone too early but as soon as I asked him he really found a lot.

"You are overwhelmed for weeks. Honestly it won't sink in for weeks. A lot was going through my mind, keep the horse safe, get weighed in and then go and enjoy it. I have given dad my helmet, that is it, I am done."

Many bookmakers are paying out on more than the top four finishers for this race

Fiddlerontheroof was fifth with Longhouse Poet in sixth.

Andrew Thornton
Former Grand National jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live

Any Second Now had no hard luck stories. He had the perfect run round and he came with a challenge at the last. You can feel the shock that a 50/1 chance has beaten the red-hot favourite.

And then winning jockey Sam Waley-Cohen's name is announced to huge cheers and applause as he goes up to collect the trophy.

It is a family affair as Robert and Felicity Waley-Cohen lead up several generations of the Waley-Cohen family to the podium, along with winning trainer Emmet Mullins.