Silver Birch, ridden by Robbie Power, jumps the last fence on the way to winning the Grand National Steeplechase on the final day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree Racecourse, in Liverpool, northern England, on Saturday. - Reuters

The bookmakers were the ones celebrating after Silver Birch's victory in the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree on Saturday, with most of the 275 million pounds estimated to have been bet on the race staying with them.

SILVER BIRCH was the ante-post favourite for the 2005 renewal of the race, but was a relatively unconsidered 33-1 chance this time around. He edged out the well-backed McKELVEY (12-1) and with SLIM PICKINGS (33-1) and PHILSON RUN (100-1) filling the placings, a dream result for the bookies, according to an article on Sporting Life.com.

Corals bookmakers' represen-tative Simon Clare said, "This year's Grand National will be remembered as a 'bookies benefit' with SILVER BUCK largely unbacked and only McKELVEY of the placed horses in anyway seriously supported.

"We took a record number of bets with huge day-of-race support for HEDGEHUNTER, JOE'S EDGE and POINT BARROW. We couldn't really have scripted a better result."

Equally jubilant was Ben Clare of William Hill, who declared, "The Irish stranglehold on the Grand National continues and this horse will have denied the coffers of our shops in Ireland. However, in what was the most open Grand National in a decade, with none of the fancied horses making the frame, it's like Christmas come early."

TODAY'S RACING

Today's racing takes place at Nottingham, Warwick and Exeter. At Warwick in the 15th race on the Flat, we like the look of the David Pipe-trained BRASTAR JELOIS (3-1) who is fit from hurdling.

WRITER'S TIPS: Millennium Accord (2) Fast Feet (3) Ramatni (4) Beau Nash (5) Melachrist (6) Spanish Ace Heartstead Wings (8) Marriaj (9) Woodcraft (10) Mariday (11) Ambrosiano (12) Dream Theme (13) Quick (14) Hannicean (15) Brastar Jelois(16) Spanchil Hill (17) Cripsey Brook (18) Ny Secrets (19) Worbarrow Bay.

Post time 8:10 a.m.

TRACK PRICE PLUS NUMBERING