This impressive run and very lenient treatment from the handicapper, who allotted him nine stone and 8 lbs and ensured he would not be giving weight to any of his rivals, led the public to back him down to 5/1 at the off.

Adrian Maguire who had partnered him in the most recent four of those nine outings took the mount as his second ride in the National, having also been part of the previous year's void race.

Maguire was also the leading rider at the meeting with three wins going into the National, although he had been handed a three-day riding ban after the first race of the day for over use of the whip.

He later suffered a broken neck when falling in the Becher Chase the following November but was nursed back to health to win the 1996 Scottish Grand National, his final race before retiring.

The remainder of his wins had been in small hunter chases before returning to Cheltenham three weeks before the National to successfully defend his Foxhunters title.

Double Silk was sent to the front right at the start and stayed there until the 13th fence when, for the only time in a career that spanned 31 races, he fell, having possibly been unsighted by a loose horse.

[6] Master Oats was backed heavily after beating Moorcroft Boy in the Greenhall's Gold cup at Kempton in February and was sent off at 9/1, giving Norman Williamson his fourth ride in the race.

[9] Miinnehoma was a popular runner among locals, being owned by Liverpool comedian Freddie Starr, and was sent off at 16/1 after finishing seventh behind The Fellow in the Gold Cup.

Young Hustler was also 16/1 after winning the Sun Alliance Chase and finishing third to The Fellow in the Gold Cup but lost his regular rider Carl Llewellyn to injury.

Young Hustler continued riderless and actually passed the post first, coming perilously close to stopping the eventual winner at the last fence in the process.

Supple again took the ride as his fourth National mount but the pair were never in contention and was tailed off when falling at the final fence with the horse returning lame.

39 were declared to run but Bishop's Hall, Windy Ways and Rifle Range all scratched on the morning of the race to leave 36 starting.

The race was broadcast live on BBC One in the United Kingdom for the 35th consecutive year as part of its regular Saturday afternoon sports programme Grandstand.

Bill Smith also interviewed many of the connections of the runners in the saddling boxes and paddock before the race, while betting shows were read by Graham Rock.

Lynam also interviewed Rosemary Henderson who, at the age of 52, became the first woman to collect Grand National prize money by coming fifth on Fiddlers Pike.

The race was also broadcast live on BBC Radio for the 63rd time, while preview pullouts were published in most major national newspapers, most in colour.

In an interview with Des Lynam on Grandstand Adrian Maguire, who rode Moorcroft Boy, said: "I can't really be too annoyed because we've finished third but he ran a great race and just got very tired after the last."