Considering that he had just scuppered a sporting fairytale, it was warming to see just how genuinely chuffed the racing world was for Leighton Aspell, who had scripted his own tale of the wholly unexpected at the Grand National and appeared not quite able to take it all in.

Yorkshire toasted its first Cheltenham Festival winner of the week when Hawk High swooped in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.

Rangers today clinched the Irn-Bru Third Division title to complete stage one of their journey back to the top of Scottish Football.

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny is extending his best wishes to Team Ireland ahead of the start 2012 Paralympic Games.

Nicky Henderson had no excuses for the defeat of reigning Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup champion Long Run.

Tony McCoy claimed his second Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup as Synchronised showed reservoirs of stamina in the premier race of the National Hunt calendar.

Rangers have been dealt a blow with the news that Kyle Lafferty could be out for a further six weeks as they prepare to travel to Inverness in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League on Sunday.

BALLABRIGGS is about to have his work schedule stepped up a gear in preparation for one or two outings before bidding for back-to-back successes in the John Smith’s Grand National.

Rangers are boosted by the return of Dorin Goian for their Clydesdale Bank Premier League game against Inverness.

RANGERS’ Champions League hopes were shattered last night as they crashed out of the competition at the hands of Malmo after being reduced to nine men in their third round qualifier in Sweden.

Rangers manager Ally McCoist handed Lee Wallace his debut in the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round tie against Malmo at Ibrox.

New Rangers signing Lee Wallace had to settle for a place on the bench against former club Hearts in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League opener.

Ballabriggs was an emotional winner of the John Smith's Grand National for Donald McCain, son of Aintree legend Ginger McCain, the trainer of Red Rum.

Kyle Bartley will miss the Co-operative Insurance Cup final against Celtic with a knee injury.

Albertas Run recorded back-to-back victories in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham under a gallant Tony McCoy.

BLACKPOOL Billy is one of the shining lights on an informative afternoon at Ayr today.

Mick McCarthy paid tribute to the contribution of his Wolves’ youngsters after Wanderers squeezed past Southend and into the Carling Cup third round last night.

Wolves 2 Southend 1

ASTONISHING, awesome, extraordinary are just a trio of words you could use to describe the sheer power Tony McCoy produced to land Albertas Run a winner of the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham yesterday.

Finian's Rainbow simply outclassed the opposition in the Hope Safe T-Bar Novices' Hurdle at Ascot today.

Jonjo O’Neill will allow the dust to settle on Albertas Run’s return to form at Ascot over the weekend before making definite plans for the 2008 RSA Chase winner.

THE Michael Bowe-trained Coolcashin sprang a 25-1 shock in the Grade 3 ladbrokes.com Hurdle at Fairyhouse yesterday.

THE Eugene O’Sullivan-trained Juveigneur booked his passage for next month’s Cheltenham Foxhunters by recording a facile success in the open lightweight at yesterday’s Kildorrery point-to-point, run under the auspices of the Duhallow Foxhounds on the Vaughan family’s lands at Rockmills Stud where it has been staged since 1979.

OWNER Trevor Hemmings loves to have a winner at his local track and Coe can prove the apple of his eye with victory in Haydock’s feature race of the National Hunt season.

Recent Haydock winner Coe could return to the Merseyside track for the Blue Square Gold Cup on February 14.

It took Frankie Dettori 15 attempts to win the Derby and now racing’s other household name is hoping his turn has finally come in the Grand National.

Ante-post favourite Cloudy Lane features among a maximum field of 40 declared for the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday.

Cloudy Lane, ante-post favourite for the John Smith’s Grand National on April 5, features among the 115 horses still engaged in the Aintree marathon.

Trevor Hemmings is dreaming of John Smith’s Grand National glory once more, this time with Cloudy Lane.

Turpin Green will be prepared for another crack at the Cheltenham Gold Cup after taking the Edward Hanmer Memorial Graduation Chase at Haydock.

Turpin Green got back to winning ways in the Edward Hanmer Memorial Graduation Chase at Haydock – but it was a race not without incident.

Owner Trevor Hemmings has pinpointed a familiar target for his popular veteran Hedgehunter.

Eugene O’Sullivan believes there could be one more big race in Head Waiter before the handicapper takes his toll, and he would like it to be in tomorrow’s Listowel Races Supporters Club Lartigue Hurdle.

Exotic Dancer will head a maximum field of nine in the Betfair Bowl at Aintree on Thursday after one extra entry was made following the reopening of the race.

Donald McCain has expressed his delight with new addition Idle Talk following the eight-year-old’s transfer to his Cholmondeley base in Cheshire.

A high-class entry featuring 119 hopefuls has been revealed for the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on April 14.

Conditions at Haydock may have only just been raceable but that did not stop the gallant 13-year-old Ichi Beau galloping to his seventh victory over fences in the Sporting Index Handicap Chase.

Nicky Richards is convinced that Hennessy Gold Cup flop Turpin Green will bounce back to his best at Haydock in the Peter Marsh Chase on Saturday.

There were emotional scenes at Haydock after Sue Smith’s Sharp Belline gamely took the honours in the Pontin’s-sponsored The Last Fling Chase.

Tidal Wave, who was voted last season's Jumper Of the Year in France after winning three times over hurdles, gained his first success in Britain when running out an impressive winner at Carlisle.

Connections of Trabolgan revealed it is “very possible” the star chaser could miss the entire jumps season.

Trabolgan faces a scan next week as he continues his recovery from a tendon problem.

CHRISTIAN WILLIAMS sees last year’s winner Hedgehunter as the main threat to his mount Royal Auclair - one of seven Paul Nicholls runners - in the John Smith’s Grand National on Saturday.

HEDGEHUNTER is a general 4-1 favourite with the English firms, although Irish bookmakers Cashmans and Paddy Power buck the trend with a 5-1 offer, to land back-to-back runnings of the John Smith’s Grand National after heading the list of 84 horses left in the Aintree spectacular at the five-day confirmation stage.