National hero retired

RED MARAUDER, winner of the 2001 Martell Cognac Grand National, has been retired after being ruled out of a second crack at the Aintree showpiece because of the going.

The 13-year-old won an epic renewal of the world’s greatest showpiece when defeating Smarty by a distance.

The first two were the only two horses to put in clear rounds in a race run in desperate conditions.