The triumph and tragedy of sport was encapsulated by Harry Purcell’s magnificent senior 800m and 400m double before he pulled a hamstring in the 4x100m relay at the Aviva All-Ireland Schools Track and Field Championships in Tullamore on Saturday.

Ante-post favourite Nil Desperandum heads a total of 106 horses still engaged in the John Smith’s Grand National after the first forfeit stage.

Nil Desperandum was reported to be in good health despite his disappointing run in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury.

Paul Nicholls believes that Royal Auclair has a good chance of giving him a second success in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup as a trainer to add to the two he won as a jockey.