In a race where victory makes you famous and near misses are instantly forgotten, a place in the frame is cause for more despair than a fall in the country. Hence, while Venetia Williams and her triumphant team celebrated with a lunch party and even a flypast from a friend's private plane, yesterday was a time of moping reflection for many others.

David Johnson may just be an exception. The owner was reduced to tears of pride after Comply Or Die had come so close to becoming the first since Red Rum to win back-to-back Nationals - and the first National winner in recent times to even win another race. “He was the real hero of this National,” Johnson said emotionally.

The combination of blinkers and Aintree are the making of this horse - that and the tender hands of Timmy Murphy. Despite being unsaddled on the course, one of several victims of dehydration, he was fine yesterday and will be aimed at the National for a third time.

Johnson's great friend Andy Stewart was also in the placed slots after My Will had survived a number of jumping errors to finish third. Stewart is also keen for another crack next year, though his trainer, Paul Nicholls, was despondent after yet another failed attempt on the biggest race to elude his steeplechasing artillery.

Nicholls was not alone in such feelings. Tony McCoy, only seventh on the 7-1 favourite, Butler's Cabin, has now ridden in 14 Nationals without winning it and is in increasing danger of joining such past champions as John Francome, Peter Scudamore and Jonjo O'Neill in retiring without tasting the ultimate triumph.

McCoy was sensibly rational in discussing the two false starts that delayed the race and resulted in a string of jockeys being suspended. Unlike the events of 2007, which cost Peter Haynes his role, no blame attached to the present starter, Sean McDonald, the blame lying with jockeys being too eager to charge the tape.

Denis O'Regan and Davy Russell were among six riders who will serve four-day suspensions for their role in the false starts. Both will miss the Scottish National, as will Ruby Walsh and Richard Johnson, who picked up bans for riding offences.