Scottish jockey Ryan Mania has won the Grand National at his first attempt, guiding outsider Auroras Encore to victory at Aintree.

The 23-year-old, who briefly gave up riding two years ago when opportunities dried up, gave the 66-1 chance a perfect ride with Auroras Encore beating Welsh duo Cappa Bleu (12-1) and Teaforthree (10-1).

The winner is trained by Sue Smith, wife of former leading showjumper Harvey and the third woman successful in the world's most famous steeplechase.

Auroras Encore won by nine lengths, but more importantly for officials who had introduced sweeping reforms after four fatalities in the past two years, all horses in Saturday's race returned safely.

Mania seized his chance when Teaforthree hit the last after looking set to give Wales its first National win since Kirkland in 1905.

He was never in trouble after that as Cappa Bleu, fourth last year, ran on to rob Teaforthree of second while Cheltenham Gold Cup winning amateur rider Sam Waley-Cohen produced another fantastic ride to take fourth.

"He gave me a dream ride, he's brilliant," Mania said.

"He loved every second of it, just class. He was second in the Scottish National last season. He made a couple of little mistakes then learned from them.

"I gave up riding for six months two years ago when the rides dried up, then Sue and Harvey took me in and it's gone well since the."

Sue Smith said everything had fallen into place.

"You can ride him anywhere, anyhow, the ground was in his favour, he had no weight, Ryan gave him a fantastic ride," she said.

Cappa Bleu's trainer Evan Williams, one of a growing group of influential young trainers in Wales, has made a habit of training placed horses in the race but he was not disappointed with missing out.

"You can't put into words what this race means to us," he said.

"To finish second to legends like Sue and Harvey Smith is no disgrace."

Katie Walsh's hopes of becoming the first woman rider to win looked promising midway round the second circuit on 11-2 favourite Seabass.

Riding alongside brother Ruby, who was on second favourite On My Own, her mount was going easily.

When On My Own fell at the 25th Seabass kept on but rounding the turn to the straight the signs were out as he came under the whip and faded to finish 13th.

The Irish challenge, rated as one of the strongest ever, foundered completely with Rare Bob the best of the 17 of the 40 horses to finish the race.

AFP AAP