Trainer Kim Bailey was justifiably proud of Crabbie's Grand National runner-up The Last Samuri

The 8/1 joint-favourite ran a tremendous race and was only headed at the Elbow by eventual winner Rule The World going down by six lengths.

The trainer, who saddled Mr Frisk to win the great race in 1990, said: "Nothing is over until they cross the line, the horse tried his heart out and he jumped for fun. It's the longest run-in you can possibly imagine. I was standing here screaming - my voice has gone.

"We've beaten the third horse, but another horse has come on the outside from nowhere. I'm just so proud. We'll do it all over again next year 12lb worse off."

Owner Paul Rooney said: "He's only a baby at seven years old, next year is his year. This is his trial run and we're very confident about next year."

"He's run an absolute blinder," said jockey David Bass. "I can't fault the horse, he's as brave as a lion. I'm just gutted to finish second. He travelled, he jumped, we fought off the third horse and it's just gutting to be beaten by one. I thought going to the Elbow that if we just kept going we might finish with a wet sail. Anyway, hopefully next year." Vics Canvas ran a fantastic race to finish third after making a shuddering mistake jumping Becher's Brook the first time.

Trainer Dermot McLoughlin said: "It was unbelievable how Robbie (Dunne) came back from that mistake at Becher's. They must have lost 20 lengths, the horse tried so hard and it was a great run. Robbie was understandably very disappointed afterwards.

"It was the first time he'd had a low weight like 10st 6lb on his back. He's much better with a light weight so we were quite hopeful beforehand."

Jockey Robbie Dunne made a miracle recovery after all but coming off at Becher's first time around.

"I was terribly unlucky at Becher's the first time," said Dunne. "I don't know how I stayed on him. It took him a while to get his confidence back, I just had to creep, creep away. I was fairly sure coming to the Elbow that I was going to win so it was bit disappointing.

"Everything else went fine apart from that one mistake. I nudged him back into it, he got his confidence back and I just waited as long as I possibly could. I thought he would stay a bit better than he did. But obviously he's quite a small horse and it's very testing ground. That's racing."

Robbie Power, who won the 2007 Crabbie's Grand National on Silver Birch, was fourth in Saturday's race on Gilgamboa

The horse, a 28/1 shot, is trained by Enda Bolger for J P McManus.

Power said: "It's his first time over that trip. He made one mistake early on, but otherwise jumped super. I had a fantastic spin.

"I was struggling turning in, and they got away from me, and no, I didn't think I could win from that point."