( CNN ) -- Neptune Collonges has become the first grey to win the Grand National , England 's most iconic horse race , since 1961 . Trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Daryl Jacobs , the 11-year-old won by a nostril from the Jonjo O'Neill-trained Sunnyhill Boy . It is the first Grand National win for legendary trainer Nicholls , who has trained 52 previous runners without success . In third place was Seabass , ridden by Katie Walsh , who recorded the highest-placed finish by a female jockey in the history of the race . The Grand National is one of the most recognizable events in the English sporting calendar which takes place annually at the Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool . The four-and-a-half mile course features 30 flights of jumps , some as large as five-feet high , including the notorious Chair and Becher 's Brook fences . The 2012 race got off to an inauspicious start after the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Synchronised was spooked on his way down to the start and unseated his jockey , AP McCoy . McCoy eventually remounted and started the race , but Synchronised - who was bidding to become the first horse since Golden Miller in 1934 to win the Gold Cup and the Grand National in the same season -- fell at the sixth fence and subsequently had to be put down . The race was also marred by the death of another horse , According to Pete . Aintree 's managing director , Julian Thick said every effort is always made to make the event safe for everyone involved . `` Since last year 's race we have made further significant changes to the course and there have been four races run over the course without serious incident since then , '' Thick said . `` After today , we will , as always , be looking at all aspects of this year 's race to see how we can improve safety further , '' he added . Earlier in the afternoon another veteran jockey , Ruby Walsh , suffered a fall in the Aintree Hurdle , ruling him out of the Grand National , where he had been due to ride On My Own . The ride was taken by Paul Townend , although they , too , failed to finish . But the Walsh family was still well-represented in the race , with the third-placed Seabass ridden by Ruby 's sister Katie and trained by their father Ted .
Neptune Collonges wins the Grand National , one of UK 's most famous horse races . Jonjo O'Neill-trained Sunnyhill Boy finishes second ; Seabass , ridden by Katie Walsh is third . Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Synchronised a faller early in race and later put down .