OLVESTON-born champion trainer Paul Nicholls added the only major prize missing from his trophy collection as Neptune Collonges won the Grand National at Aintree.

Neither Jonjo O'Neill, the trainer of runner-up Sunnyhillboy who was later to find his Gold Cup winner Synchronised had lost his life in action, nor Nicholls was quite sure whether it was to be their day as the pair flashed past the line together, before a margin of a nose was announced in favour of the 33-1 chance.

Neptune Collonges and Daryl Jacob had greater momentum than Richie McLernon and Sunnyhillboy as they remorselessly clawed back the lead, and they hauled themselves over the line just in front to virtually secure Nicholls yet another trainers' championship ahead of Nicky Henderson.

There was only one grey hero last century, Nicolaus Silver 51 years ago, and Neptune Collonges's late lunge for victory was by the shortest possible winning distance before a dead-heat has to be announced.

Nicholls, who had saddled 52 previous runners, getting closest with runner-up Royal Auclair in 2005, said: "I kept saying to my wife Georgie that he was probably the best horse we've run in the race - if it wasn't for Kauto and Denman he would have won a Gold Cup.

"He's been placed in Gold Cups, he's won Grade Ones, he stays and he's genuine. Gold Cup form counts for an awful lot and Daryl went the brave man's route, and little short-cuts make all the difference. I had given up on the championship after the day Nicky (Henderson) has had, so it's a surprise.

"This was going to be his last race and he'll be retired now. He can go out in a field over the summer with Denman and Kauto Star and have a wonderful home (with owner John Hales) for life. Good old Neptune."

The race was marred by the fatalities of Synchronised, just one month after his Cheltenham triumph, and According To Pete.

“I know that Aintree and the British Horseracing Authority will be working hard, trying to come up with some answers. I know anything we can do to improve things will be done," Nicholls told Sky Sports News.

"We've just got to have sensible discussions over the next few months and anything we can do to improve things and safety we will."

Nicholls created more history at the Aintree meeting as he celebrated a record 17th consecutive victory over hurdles for Big Buck’s in the BGC Partners Liverpool Hurdle.

The 2-9 favourite won the Grade One race for a fourth time, beating Crack Away Jack by nine lengths under Ruby Walsh to surpass the previous record set by Sir Ken in the 1950s.

Nicholls said: “We’re very happy with him and it was a great ride again.

“God willing he will stay as sound as Kauto Star has.”