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Neptune Collonges won the Grand National by a nose at Aintree n Liverpool on Saturday to become the first grey to win the race since Nicolaus Silver in 1961.

A thrilling victory for the Paul Nicholls-trained Neptune Collonges was tinged with sadness after Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Synchronised lost his life during the race.

There was a pulsating climax to the four-and-a-half-mile marathon with Neptune Collonges (33-1) getting up by a nose in the hands of Daryl Jacob to give champion trainer Nicholls his first Grand National victory after 52 previous runners had failed.

Jonjo O'Neill's Sunnyhillboy was a heart breaking second under Richie McLernon after leading to the final stride, compounding the tragedy of the death of stablemate Synchronised after he fell at Becher's Brook on the first circuit.

Malcolm Jefferson's According To Pete was reported as another fatality later in the race.

For a long way it looked as though Katie Walsh could become the first woman to win the race on the well-supported joint-favourite Seabass but he could not sustain his drive with the first pair over the two furlong and had to make do with third.

Cappa Bleu finished fourth, with In Compliance fifth and last year's winner Ballabriggs sixth.

Winning rider Daryl Jacob was overcome by the thrilling win.

"You can't beat this. I said to Paul that one day I would ride you a National winner. That was two years ago and now I've done it," he said.

Nicholls added: "He's probably the best horse we've run in the race. He's got great form, he's been placed in Gold Cups, he stays, he's genuine and Daryl gave him a fantastic ride."

Winning owner John Hales announced the immediate retirement of Neptune Collonges after the victory.