Noble Yeats, a 50-1 outsider, won the Grand National at Aintree, giving amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen a fairytale farewell.

In a thrilling conclusion, Waley-Cohen held off the challenge of favourite Any Second Now, with Delta Work third and Santini fourth.

Noble Yeats, trained by Emmet Mullins in Ireland, is the first horse to win at the age of seven since Bogskar in 1940.

The victorious jockey commented, “That’s beyond words – a fairytale and a fantasy.”

Waley-Cohen, who turns 40 this week, announced his retirement just two days before the major race.

He entered the race with the best record of any contemporary jockey over the National track, with six wins in other races, and he finished with a brilliant retirement ride.

It was the first amateur jockey success since Marcus Armytage’s victory on Mr. Frisk at Aintree in 1990.

He continued, “That’s absolutely it now, I’m done.” “I always knew it was time to call it a day when I had second thoughts about getting out of bed to go ride one, and I couldn’t think of a finer place to go out than this.” It’s why I keep coming back here year after year to experience that feeling.”

Robert Waley-Cohen, the jockey’s father, purchased Noble Yeats two months ago.

Waley-Cohen, the former chairman of Cheltenham Racecourse and the owner of Long Run, who won the 2011 Cheltenham Gold Cup under his guidance, was ecstatic.

“It’s a dream come true, I can’t speak – it’s absolutely fantastic,” Robert exclaimed.

Any Second Now finished second at 15-2, Delta Work third at 10-1, Santini fourth at 33-1, and Fiddler On The Roof fifth at 12-1.

Only 15 of the 40 horses that left made it back.

Minella Times, Rachael Blackmore’s horse, fell at the ninth fence when at the rear of the race, while Snow Leopardess, a strong favourite, was pulled up before the second round.

Waley-Cohen, who finished second in the 2011 Grand National on Oscar Time, had Noble Yeats in last place early on, but he jumped well and moved up to mid-division by the midway point.

There were six runners in contention with two fences to go, but Two For Gold, who had been out in front for so long, pulled up at the penultimate fence, leaving Noble Yeats and Any Second Now to fight it out to the finish.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) suspended Waley-Cohen for nine days and fined him £400 for exceeding the allowable whip level and placing his whip in the wrong spot in the finish.

However, he will not serve the suspension because he has declared his retirement.