Silver Birch wins Grand National thriller

Outsider Silver Birch held off the fast-finishing McKelvey as Ireland celebrated another Grand National triumph at Aintree yesterday. Silver Birch, ridden by Robbie Power, trained by Gordon Elliott and sent off at odds of 33-1, dug deep into his...

Outsider Silver Birch held off the fast-finishing McKelvey as Ireland celebrated another Grand National triumph at Aintree yesterday. Silver Birch, ridden by Robbie Power, trained by Gordon Elliott and sent off at odds of 33-1, dug deep into his stamina reserves to win the four and a half mile slog in blazing sunshine. McKelvey (12-1), ridden by Tom O'Brien, was second, beaten three quarters of a length, and Slim Pickings (33-1), partnered by Barry Geraghty was third. "Unbelievable. What a ride I got the whole way round. He jumped and travelled great," Power told the BBC. "Gordon was worried he wouldn't be able to lay-up early on, but it meant I was able to keep out of trouble. Fair play to Gordon, he has done a top job." Irish-trained horses have now won six of the last nine Nationals and four of the last five.

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