Grand National: read what the vanquished had to say

Josh Guerriero, joint-trainer of runner-up Iroko: “I’m very proud of him He’s run amazing. He’s run a blinder. He finished fourth last year when I Am Maximus was second and he’s probably been beaten a similar distance today. Well done to ‘JP’.

“In 10 minutes time I’ll be absolutely bouncing but finishing second is just so hard to take. He’s been a star. He jumped amazing and did everything right, but he’s just been beaten by a better horse on the day. It’s pretty incredible what the winner has done. We couldn’t be anything but happy.

“Turning in it looked as if Jordans had got away from us in front, but to be fair I Am Maximus was just in front of us and he’s probably the better horse on the day.

“We’ll come back and win it next year. He’s got even more experience now and probably his Cheltenham prep wasn’t the best. I Am Maximus will be another year older and we are only eight. It wasn’t to be today, but we’ll win it one day.”

Jonjo O’Neill Jr, rider of runner-up Iroko, said: “He stayed on very well; he was probably just a touch below the class of horses like I Am Maximus and just lacking that gear at the end. He stayed on very well and if the ground had been slower, the class might have been taken out of it a little more. But listen, he’s come second to a proper champion, an improved effort, and hopefully he’ll come back next year with the ground being a bit softer.”

Ben Jones, rider of third-placed Jordans: “He jumped the first three or four really well and then he nearly got brought down, which was probably the best thing ever, really, because I was just able to ride him to run well and could take my time. I jumped the Canal Turn for the last time and he started travelling and took me forward. Crossing the Melling Road going so easily, I thought this can’t be happening. Two out and the last I thought whatever happens now, he’s run a blinder. The loose horses probably didn’t help me at the Elbow - they went left and we had to go on our own. If they’d come with me I wouldn’t have got so lonely and might just have held on. He’s run a cracker.

‘I didn’t want to think about winning too much [in the latter stages of the race], and I got over the last and thought right, whatever happens now he’s run well. I got to the Elbow and I thought, no way, but we’ll be back to have another crack next year. 

“I had such a smooth run round, it was just magical.”

AJ O’Neill, joint trainer of the fourth Johnnywho, said: “He ran an absolute cracker. We are absolutely delighted. It maybe got a little bit congested in the later stages, but it didn’t hamper him too much. Richie gave him a lovely ride and had him in a lovely spot all the way through. He jumped away well all the way and enjoyed himself.

“It’s been a great day for the family with Jonjo riding the second.

Jonjo O’Neill senior, joint-trainer of Johnnywho, added: “I’m thrilled to bits with him. What a day for JP with the first, second and fourth. Unfortunately we had the wrong one!

He’ll hopefully come back next year. You need a lot of things to go right but he enjoyed himself.”

Johnnywho’s jockey Richie McLernon added: “I couldn’t have asked for much more from him. He jumped and he travelled and he’s run a cracker. Aintree has eluded me so far, but there’s plenty of lads who would have loved to have finished fourth today.”

"Very happy. Ran well."

"Ran a cracker, jumped super and travelled good. Kept going all the way to the line and ran an absolute belter."

"Crossing the Melling Road I had a right chance and he just got a bit tired from there to home."

"I got a great ride off him. He jumped fantastic and just didn't see it out."

"He's been a brilliant horse for us. He's had a brilliant campaign. Just wanted to get over the first three and see where we were and see where we travelled.

"I said to Dickie [Johnson] afterwards that he's gone round as if he's been round 10 times before. He loved going a stride slower. He took to the fences brilliantly. He's a brilliant jumper anyway, but that was a question mark and he answered that as if he's been round there.

"He was fantastic. Travelled, jumped, I was jumping into places I didn't really want to be. I was a bit further forward than I liked, but it was all about keeping him happy today.

"I sort of knew my fate turning in for home. I was hoping I had a gear or two left to go through, but I didn't. He's just come home in a pretty uncompetitive fashion, but we can go back down in trip and its opened up Becher options, Topham options for us. Plenty to go get out of that."

"He was there three out, but didn't quite get home."

"I went at the first. It's the highs and lows."

"From my position he just got in all the trouble that was out there. Every faller that was in the race, I seemed to be behind him. So I didn't get much of a run, but I've probably run OK considering how much trouble I got into."

"I got unseated at the Chair. I was back a bit further than I wanted, but he was enjoying himself up to that."

"Lecky Watson jumped early and made a mistake on the Chair and lost his confidence after that."

"Unseated."

"I got a lovely first circuit. But when it came to the Chair he made a terrible mistake, and after that he was struggling."

"Didn't get very far. He's OK, he led them around afterwards. He's fine." 

"Nice rhythm early, didn't make it too far. Made it to Becher's first time."

"Nice even gallop until I parted company."

"I'm alright and she's alright. That's the main thing."