• Grand National

McCoy wins at last on Don't Push It

Don't Push It was promoted to joint favourite at 10/1 shortly before the beginning of the race © Getty Images

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Grand National in pictures

Tony McCoy finally won the Grand National at the 15th attempt, launching a late charge on Don't Push It to beat Black Apalachi by five lengths at Aintree.

The 14-time champion jockey was lurking behind the early leaders, but a well-timed assault saw him outjump long-time leader Black Apalachi at the last to sprint clear. State of Play finished third with joint favourite Big Fella Thanks fourth.

A tearful McCoy was delighted to finally win the world-famous race. "I'm being a big wuss," he said. "It means everything to me to win the Grand National. I've won lots of big races and I'm supposed to be a good jockey, but to not win the Grand National would be a bit of a negative on the CV."

It was also the first taste of success for owner JP McManus and trainer Jonjo O'Neill.

Hello Bud, ridden by teenager Sam Twiston-Davies, was challenging for the lead in the middle of the race, but faded to fifth. Snowy Morning was sixth, with Nina Carberry seventh aboard Character Building.

Last year's winner Mon Mome fell at the 26th fence, while 2008 winner Comply or Die 12th.

Big Fella Thanks, the outright favourite until Don't Push It joined him on 10/1, was not ridden by jockey Ruby Walsh after he was taken to hospital with a suspected broken arm after a heavy fall from Celestial Halo in the Aintree Hurdle earlier in the afternoon.

Barry Geraghty, who was originally booked to ride Tricky Trickster, stepped in to ride Big Fella Thanks, while Richard Johnson took over the reins on Tricky Trickster, finishing ninth.

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