Mon Mome springs 100-1 National shock

By Justin Palmer

LIVERPOOL, England (Reuters) - Mon Mome, a 100-1 outsider trained by Venetia Williams and ridden by Liam Treadwell, sprung a huge surprise by winning the Grand National at Aintree racecourse Saturday.

Last year's winner Comply Or Die (14-1) made a valiant attempt to become the first horse since Red Rum in 1974 to win successive Nationals but had to settle for second. My Will (8-1) took third.

Treadwell, 23, having his first ride in the race, said: "It's absolutely unbelievable. He's a super horse to ride. It was great for me. He's so genuine."

Mon Mome, bred in France and whose name means "My Kid," was the biggest-priced winner of the race since Foinavon in 1967.

The odds of 100-1 are the longest for a winner of the famous race that dates back to 1839 and Mon Mome became only the fifth horse to win at such a price in 162 Nationals.

Williams is only the second woman to train a National winner following Jenny Pitman, who landed the race with Corbiere in 1983 and Royal Athlete in 1995.

"How can you ever expect that? It's unbelievable," Williams, 48, told reporters after Mon Mome's 12-length win.

"It was only when he was four lengths over the last that I was confident that he would win. I'm a great one for not dreaming and aiming too high so I don't set myself up for disappointments so I was being realistic beforehand.