One for Arthur wins 2017 Grand National at Aintree

Trained in Scotland by Lucinda Russell and Peter Scudamore, One For Arthur beat Cause Of Causes by four and a half lengths back in second. Grand National veteran Saint Are finished third, while race favourite Blaklion was fourth.

The prestigious handicap steeplechase has had its fair share of fairytales over the years since its first running in 1839 and this year’s renewal proved no exception.

One For Arthur became just the second Scottish-trained winner of the Grand National since Rubstic triumphed for John Leadbetter back in 1979.

Winning trainer Russell joins Jenny Pitman, Venetia Williams and Sue Smith as females to have trained the winner of the iconic steeplechase.

For winning jockey Fox, the win was all the more remarkable given he was injured on the 9 March and has battled from a broken wrist and collarbone to be able to ride.

The recovery was well worth it as the progressive One For Arthur, who had finished fifth in the Becher Chase last year and took the Classic Chase at Warwick on his most recent outing, returned winner at odds of 14-1.

Blaklion was sent off as the race favourite and under Noel Fehily travelled powerfully, to a point they looked likely to win by cruising into the lead with three fences to go.

However, Fox was riding One For Arthur patiently, always making good headway and seemingly waiting for their opportunity. And it arrived at the last fence from where the pair delivered an ultimately decisive challenge to pick up the tempo and stride clear.

Cause of Causes, ridden by J J Codd, ran on gamely but had no answer to One for Arthur’s late burst, taking second albeit four and a half lengths back.

Saint Are came in ahead of Blaklion in fourth, Gas Line Boy was fifth with Becher Chase and Grand National Trial winner Vieux Lion Rouge taking sixth.

Nineteen of the 40 horses finished the race, with Aintree officials reporting that all runners came back safely.

Having registered the biggest success of his career, Fox, speaking afterwards said: “It’s unbelievable. He just jumped so well and never missed a fence. He was unbelievable and took me everywhere.”

Russell said: “He’s improved every time. We kept thinking, barring accidents he can win the National, and he has.”