The maximum permitted field of 40 runners competed for a share of a record £1 million prize fund, which makes the National the most valuable jump race in Europe.

Pineau de Re, a 25/1 shot ridden by Leighton Aspell, won the race for trainer Dr Richard Newland and owner John Provan, to become the sixth French-bred horse to win the Grand National.

The following day, Aintree announced that 115 horses had been entered for consideration in the 2014 Grand National, an increase of 31 on the previous year and the highest number of initial entries since 2009.

Eighteen of the 39 runners made it over the final fence and on the long run-in to the finishing post Pineau de Re extended his lead over Balthazar King to win by five lengths.

[7][8] The charity World Horse Welfare issued a statement after the race declaring that they were pleased with the positive effect the modifications of the course and strict guidelines laid down to riders had on the welfare of the horses; however, the stewards issued a 12-day riding ban to Jack Doyle, whom they judged should have pulled up when tailed off as his mount, Wayward Prince, appeared in an exhausted state before falling at the third-last fence.

[9] A stewards' inquiry was also called into the conduct of the jockeys at the start of the race, where it was claimed the welfare of assistant starter, Simon McNeill, who was knocked over but not injured, was compromised.

Clare Balding and Nick Luck presented Channel 4's coverage, supported by Jim McGrath, Mick Fitzgerald and Graham Cunningham.

The race was part of its Saturday Sport 5 Live broadcast, presented by Mark Pougatch with pre-race build-up from former National riders Andrew Thornton and Luke Harvey.

[12] The Grand National also continued to move rapidly into new media with the majority of betting on the race taking place with online bookmakers.