Black Apalachi thrills Burke

Owner Gerard Burke received just about everything he was hoping for after Black Apalachi finished a brave second in the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree.

Handled perfectly by Denis O'Regan, the 11-year-old looked like he had all of his rivals up against it turning for home but eventually succumbed to the brutal determination of Tony McCoy and the nationally-backed joint-favourite Don't Push It.

A second-fence faller in 2008 and unseated at Becher's Brook last year, this bold performance was what trainer Dessie Hughes and former Galway dairy farmer Burke had always wanted to see.

"I would hardly be happier if he had won it," said Burke.

"It was third-time lucky and we're thrilled. Who knows about next year and whether he'll ever win a National, but he has shown today he is good enough to be there."

Hughes, whose Vic Venturi did not complete, was not quite as demonstratively upbeat, but added: "He ran his heart out. You could not have asked for more. He made one little mistake but he came back again. He just had plenty of weight and that told.

"Roger Loughran was a bit unlucky on the other horse (Vic Venturi) as one fell in front of him and he was brought down."

O'Regan, who picked up a three-day suspension for his use of the whip, said: "I'm so delighted for AP McCoy, he has been years in the game and if anybody had to beat me, I'm just glad it was him.

"He was a bit keen early on but once he got into a rhythm he was fantastic. It's a pleasure to ride a horse like him around here."

State Of Play, fourth to Mon Mome last year, went one place better this time around, finishing 25 lengths behind Don't Push It in third.

Trainer Evan Williams said: "Over the moon, of course we are. They have gone hard and two from home - Paul Moloney had crept and crept and crept - I thought he might get to them.

"But the first two have gone clear and the fourth has weakened.

"I'm just very, very proud of the horse. He has showed how brave he is, and I'll never have another one like him."

While McCoy's wait for the elusive National is finally over, it must continue for champion trainer Paul Nicholls. But he was nonetheless thrilled with the effort of Big Fella Thanks in fourth, ridden by Barry Geraghty due to the earlier injury of Ruby Walsh

"I'm chuffed to bits with him," said Nicholls.

"It might be that he just doesn't stay but he has found a bit of speed this year and he ran a blinding race, there are no excuses.

"If he doesn't stay I don't know how we could get more out of him. Maybe if the ground was slower, I don't know. Or maybe we just look for another race for him."

Of Tricky Trickster, who finished ninth, Nicholls added: "The ground was quick enough him but when he gets older and stronger he'll be perfect.

"He's a horse who can come back here for three or four years and hopefully one day he will get his ground.

"It's good for AP though. It's the perfect result for racing."

Arthur Moore was left baffled by the behaviour of King Johns Castle, who was unruly at the start and refused to jump off.

"He has always been slightly quirky but I never thought that would happen. I really don't know why it did," said the Irish trainer.