According to Paddy Power bookmakers a significant number of people who backed Risk Accessor, the horse that finished fifth in the race on 8 April, have yet to collect their winnings. Most bookmakers only pay out on four places in the Aintree Grand National but Paddy Power also pays out on fifth place. "No matter what we do, we can't seem to get this across, " said Barney Evans from the bookmakers firm. "We put up posters, we take out ads, but every year, we're left with unclaimed winnings for the fifth place."

For the past two years, the fifth-placed horses came home at short odds, meaning the amount unclaimed has been small. But Risk Accessor finished at a towering 66/1, meaning anyone who had a 5 stake on the horse stands to collect around 80. "My suspicion is that anyone who's got a 5 bet will have collected, " said Evans, "but there are certainly hundreds of smaller bets that are still outstanding. You get slips in on Grand National day with 10 bets on them for small amounts.

People don't realise then when they've won."

Boylesports also paid out on fifth place in this year's race but, unlike Paddy Power, it says all winnings on Risk Accessor have been collected. "It was heavily advertised that we'd pay on fifth place, " said a spokesperson. "If people didn't realise, I'd say they realised soon enough when the horse finished at those odds."