Whip ban for National winner

Power was suspended for hitting the winner, a 33-1 shot, too short and too near the stifle, the equine equivalent of the human knee joint.

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Barry Geraghty, rider of thirdplaced Slim Pickings, also fell foul of the rules and was banned for three days for using his whip with excessive force. The punishment failed to dent the mood of Power, 25, as he prepared to celebrate winning the National at the second attempt.

"I had an unbelievable ride the whole way," he said. "Silver Birch jumped and travelled great. It does not get any better than this. Perhaps I should retire now."

Silver Birch, the fourth Irishtrained winner of the National in the past five years, was a bargain buy for owner Brian Walsh, 26. Previously in the care of champion trainer Paul Nicholls, the horse cost only 20,000 guineas last May. He held off fast-finishing McElvey by three-quarters of a length.