PINEAU De Re, 25/1 winner of the Crabbies Grand National at Aintree, was an unlikely hero for at least three reasons.

Firstly, National winners these days may well have been tucked away in handicap hurdles but Pineau De Re is the first to have been involved in a battle royal in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham. Secondly, he is trained by Dr Richard Newland, a former GP who has only about 15 horses on the go at any one time.