In April Auroras Encore won the 166th Grand National at Aintree by nine lengths as a 66-1 outsider.
Rider Ryan Mania guided the 11-year-old trained by Sue Smith home, jumping superbly throughout, as 17 of the 40 runners finished the race.
Cappa Bleu (12-1) was second, Teaforthree (10-1) third and 2011 runner-up Oscar Time (66-1) fourth, ahead of Rare Bob (16-1).
11-2 favourite Seabass ridden jockey Katie Walsh who sought to become the first female rider to win the famous steeplechase. But her mount faded, eventually finishing 13th.
After a series of disappointing unplaced runs Auroras Encore went largely ignored by punters. But the drying ground may well have been the key to the gelding's improvement as Smith became the third female trainer to win the race after Jenny Pitman (Corbiere and Royal Athlete) and Venetia Williams (Mon Mome).
After two fatalities in each of the two previous runnings, all 40 horses and jockeys returned safely. Only two horses fell with six jockeys unseated, while it was the first time in the race's history that the entire field were still in contention up to Canal Turn, the eighth fence.
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