Clan Royal, the latter’s market rival, was third under Tony McCoy, with Nil Desperandum fourth in a race which got off some five minutes late following a false start.

Numbersixvalverde, who is trained in County Kildare by Martin Brassil, was completing a famous double having won last year’s Irish Grand National.

Hedgehunter was still on the bridle after jumping the last but his burden of 11st 12lb told and the Gold Cup runner-up, conceding 18lb to his conqueror, had to settle for a gallant second.

A jubilant Madden told BBC Sport: “It’s brilliant. I had a dream run the whole way round and he jumped super. I wasn’t sure I’d won until I crossed the line though.

“This means everything to me. It’s magic.

“I’ve tried to imagine winning this race since I was a boy but I couldn’t. It’s magic.”

Brassil said: “It is unbelievable and it was like watching a movie out there. Niall gave him a great ride and never panicked – it is all hard to believe really.

“I have only been to Aintree once and that was in 1982 when I rode in an amateur chase.

“It is great for Niall as he is a fabulous young jockey and he has got such a great relationship with that horse.

“He was always in a good position and popped away – never doing anything extravagant and he is such a good jumper.

“The rain last night would have been a help as it would have deadened the ground a little bit and on better ground the others might have been able to quicken up better than he did.”

Willie Mullins, trainer of Hedgehunter, was far from downcast with the effort of his 10-year-old, who was bidding to become the first horse since Red Rum in 1974 to land back-to-back Nationals.

“I was absolutely delighted with him, I thought for a long way we were going to do it,” he said. “It’s great for Martin Brassil to win it though and my congratulations go to him.

“I thought the winner had a great chance, he had a very similar profile to Hedgehunter last year, a lot of things were mirror image with him and I thought he would have a good squeak if he got round.

“I didn’t think we were beaten until they got to the Elbow. I thought Ruby (Walsh) had just saved a bit and that the other horse had gone too soon and you just hope that something like that happens.

“As they straightened up after the Elbow though I knew the game was up, I was just praying we held on to second place then.

“In the end giving 18lb away on that ground just proved too much.

“Red Rum was the last to win back to back Nationals and it shows what a special horse he was to win it three times.

“Some horses don’t like it when they come back but he loves it, it brings him to life. Hopefully we’ll be back in 12 months’ time.”

Jonjo O’Neill, trainer of Clan Royal, was gracious in defeat.

“He ran a blinder, he jumped well and with two to jump I thought he was in with a chance but he was just beaten by better horses on the day,” he said.

“They were too good for him, he’s just a galloper.”

Clan Royal’s owner JP McManus said: “He made a couple of mistakes including a serious one at the ditch (19th fence) and I think he did very well to get back into the race after it.

“He made another late on in the race and after all that he has given a very good account of himself and he nicked third place.

“He showed great heart to come back and Tony said he ran his heart out.

“I am just pleased he got round and got home safe.”

Francis Crowley, trainer of Nil Desperandum, said: “I’m delighted with that run. I thought we had a chance when he was going well turning in and then I thought he was going to be third for a while.

“He ran well in it last year and he has gone two places better so hopefully we will be back again next year.

“He is in all the long-distance handicaps so we’ll be looking at those.”