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There were no fallers last year and 21 horses completed the race - the highest number across the finish line since 1992 - with four horses unseating their riders and seven pulled up.

He finished 18th, but tournament organisers ruled that Mills had been impeded and sent him through along with Hay and the other fallers - meaning 20 men will compete in the 5,000m final on Saturday.

All these changes have cemented the changing nature of the Grand National - 21 of the 32 horses completed the race, and there were no fallers, with four horses unseating their riders and seven pulled up.

Mr Farquhar was tormented by this "mystery illness" and saw a number of doctors, but Field told health workers the retired lecturer was "a frequent faller" who probably had dementia.

"When we had the faller at Wetherby the other day we were really upset, the horse was fine but we heard Derek had hurt his shoulder again," she said.