Auroras Encore, the 2013 Grand National champion, has died at the age of 23, prompting a flood of tributes for the horse who claimed a famous victory at Aintree.

Ridden by Ryan Mania and trained by Sue Smith, the 66/1 outsider stormed clear to win by nine lengths 13 years ago. He remains the longest-priced winner of the nation's most celebrated race in over 15 years.

J Parkinson and S Smith Racing broke the heartbreaking news on social media, stating: "It is with great sadness that we share the passing of 2013 Grand National winner, Auroras Encore, 23. He achieved what every owner, trainer dreams of.

"After his racing days were over, he spent his retirement here with us. Rest easy, champion. You will always be remembered."

The Irish-bred bay gelding triumphed in eight of his 47 races, including six victories over fences. His extraordinary stamina was plain to see even before his Aintree glory - just 12 months before, he had finished runner-up in the 2012 Scottish Grand National before going on to claim the victory at Aintree the following year.

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When Auroras Encore won the Grand National, he became the first northern-trained winner of the race in more than thirty years. He would compete just twice more following the win before being retired in 2014 after sustaining a leg injury at Doncaster.

His Grand National triumph represented the pinnacle for trainer Smith, who had merely hoped for a top-five finish when he competed 13 years ago. She said at the time: "I would have been happy to have been in the first four or five and we've won it.

"The horse ran a fantastic race, Ryan gave him a fantastic ride and always had the horse where he wanted to be. He ran so well in the Scottish National (2nd) that we knew he would get the trip."

Jockey Mania said: "Everything went right. Crossing the Melling Road I thought we could be in the first three or four. I couldn't believe the way the front two stopped in front of me at the last."

Smith remained optimistic that Auroras Encore would enjoy a well-deserved retirement, insisting he "doesn't owe us anything" after injury brought his racing career to a premature end.

She said: "I just want him to have a happy retirement. They got him up successfully after surgery and he was staying overnight in the operation box. Fingers crossed. He won the National for us. It doesn't get bigger than that.

"He doesn't owe us anything. This is a racing injury and I'm afraid that is what you have to expect from the job on occasion. I just want him back to his retirement."