Nearly 500,000 people packed into Aintree for the first royal National since the Second World War.

Royal interest centred on Monaveen, the co-third-favourite who was jointly owned by the Queen and Princess Elizabeth.

Despite leading the field, Monaveen made a bad mistake at The Chair, nearly unseating his jockey, and losing significant ground.

The race was won by Freebooter, the 10/1 joint-favourite ridden by Irish jockey Jimmy Power and trained by Bobby Renton for owner Lurline Brotherton.

In second place was Wot No Sun, Acthon Major finished third, and Rowland Roy fourth.