Roll-A-Joint fell at the first Canal Turn, breaking his neck and dying almost instantly, while Hungary Hur incurred a leg fracture while running towards the 19th fence, pulled up and was euthanised.

He never again attempted the National but did return three times for the Fox Hunters Chase, being beaten second in both 1994 and 1995 before being brought down in what proved his final race in 1996.

By the time the Canal Turn was reached he was fifth and crossing the Melling Road moved into second to issue a challenge to the eventual winner at the final fence.

He arrived at Aintree as the winner of the Ritz Club Chase at the Cheltenham Festival three weeks earlier and in addition had been given the minimum 10 stone to carry by jockey Richard Dunwoody, albeit the Ulsterman weighed out 2 lbs overweight.

In partnership with his amateur rider, Mr Ray Martin, the pair went off at 14/1 but were well to the rear throughout the race before making ground through the tiring field to finish seventh, getting their only mention from the television commentator as they passed the post.

Ghofar and Brendan Powell came to Aintree having won the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury the previous year, having beaten Brown Windsor in the process.

Next in the market came three 16/1 shots, which included Mr Frisk, the winner of the Ascot Punch Bowl Amateur Chase the previous November.

They were up among the leaders throughout the race, being left fifteen lengths clear when co-leader, Uncle Merlin - another 16/1 shot - unseated at Becher's Brook on the second circuit.

Although challenged on the run in by Durham Edition, they remained in front to win in a record time of 8 minutes 47.80 seconds,[6] which still stands despite the race distance being reduced since 2013.

In the aftermath of two equine fatalities at Becher's Brook in the previous years National (Brown Trix and Seeandem), it was decided to make modifications to the fence.

The BBC broadcast the race live on television for the thirty-first consecutive year as part of its regular Saturday afternoon Grandstand programme, in a Grand National special.

The television commentary team was unchanged for the nineteenth consecutive year in John Hanmer, Julian Wilson and lead commentator, Peter O'Sullevan who was calling his forty-fifth Grand National.

[10] The horse's body had been moved a few feet away from the landing side of the fence and covered with a tarpaulin, made clearly visible to viewers in the slow-motion replay afterwards.

Among the fifteen riders making their debut in the race were Norman Williamson, Charlie Swan, Lorcan Wyer and Jamie Osborne, all of whom would later finish second in future Grand Nationals.