Great and all as the Irish, Scottish and Welsh versions are, nothing quite compares with the Aintree Grand National.

With the Cheltenham Festival moving tantalisingly into view the fare in Britain this afternoon is understandably less than stellar.

It was, as Sandra Hughes put it, a day for the girls. The ‘McCoy factor’ and glorious sunshine brought 16,621 to Fairyhouse in the hope of an Irish Grand National fairytale.

Dessie Hughes’ Raz De Maree followed his recent success in the Munster National at Limerick by adding the Paddy Power Cork Grand National at Cork yesterday.