( CNN ) -- Patience and persistence paid off for jockey Ryan Mania on Saturday as he helped Sue Smith to become only the third woman trainer to win Britain 's most famous -- and most controversial -- steeplechase , the Grand National . The Scottish jockey , having his first ride in the race , briefly quit horse racing during a frustrating 2011 season . But in a fairytale turnaround , the 23-year-old , who only returned to the saddle this winter , rode 66-1 outsider Auroras Encore to victory in the four-and-a-half-mile marathon . After an almost flawless run , the 11-year-old stormed home ahead of Cappa Bleu and Teaforthree in front of a 70,000 crowd in Liverpool , watched by an estimated 600 million television audience . `` I could n't have asked for a better ride and the old horse was loving it as well , '' said Mania , after winning by nine lengths on a horse who had failed to finish three of his last seven starts and was well off the pace in the other four . Mania started working with 65-year-old Smith and her husband Harvey after a six-month hiatus when his former boss lost his training license . `` I could n't have come back without them , '' he said . `` The opportunities for jockeys up north are very limited and I am lucky to have such a good yard behind me . '' There was further welcome news for racing fans as it was confirmed that all 40 of the horses and riders to start the race returned home unscathed -- although only 17 of those completed the course . The annual Aintree event had been under intense scrutiny from animals rights groups after recent editions of the race had been marred by a high number of equine fatalities -- 11 since 2002 . That prompted race organizers to introduce a number of new safety measures this year , spending more than Â£1 million ( $ 1.5 million ) on alterations , including modifying the structure of the jumps themselves to make them safer and more forgiving and watering the ground the ensure going no faster than good-to-soft . However , there were two deaths in races in the first two days of this week 's meeting , prompting criticism from animal welfare groups . `` We are delighted there have been no fatalities in today 's big race , '' Dr. Mark Kennedy from the World Society for the Protection of Animals told CNN on Saturday . `` The ( earlier ) deaths of the horses Battlefront and Little Josh reflects current risk of fatalities in steeplechasing which needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency . `` Horse deaths or fatalities at the Grand National are not freak accidents , but statistical probabilities . The risks prove to be high each year . We are not calling for a ban of the Grand National or a ban of horse racing , but merely to make the race safer for the horse and indeed the jockey . '' In a nonetheless eventful race , on which in excess of Â£100 million ( $ 150 million ) was wagered by punters , Seabass , the 11-2 favorite and last year 's third-placer , ran well for Katie Walsh until running out of steam with a handful of fences to jump , eventually fading to 13th . She was seeking to become the first woman rider to win the race , but caused controversy in the buildup when she claimed it would have been `` a lot worse if two jockeys had lost their lives '' in reference to the two fatalities at last year 's Grand National . Her brother Ruby , riding the second favorite On His Own , was a casualty at Valentine 's Brook , the 25th fence of 30 . But fortune did smile on swashbuckling amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen , who finished a creditable fourth on Oscar Time , the runner-up in 2011 .
Auroras Encore defies the odds to win Saturday 's Grand National at Aintree . The horse was a late replacement for the injured Royal Ascot winner and leading contender in Saturday's race after he sustained an injury during training on Friday. Only 17 of 40 entrants complete race , but no repeat of last year 's two horse deaths . However , two horses died following races earlier in the three-day meeting .