What a great day to be on the couch, with the Grand National from Aintree and Heineken Cup rugby on the box! But, you know what, I’d give anything to be at Aintree, in the thick of the action.

Owner Robert Waley-Cohen and his jockey-son, Sam, have enjoyed unprecedented success over the Aintree fences but it could all pale into insignificance if Long Run wins the first £1m (€1.2m) renewal of the Crabbie’s Grand National.

As the market intensifies ahead of Saturday’s Crabbie’s Grand National at Aintree, Michael Scudamore’s Monbeg Dude was the one most punters were interested in on Tuesday.

Not content with having another shot at winning the Crabbie’s Grand National, Across The Bay’s localowners have even begun writing their own headlines.

Monbeg Dude makes a belated last public appearance ahead of the Crabbie’s Grand National when he lines-up for the William Hill Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster this afternoon.

A total of 115 entries, the highest since 2009, have been attracted to the first £1m Crabbie’s Grand National at Aintree on April 5.

A total of 115 entries, the highest since 2009, have been attracted to the first £1m (€1.2m) Crabbie’s Grand National at Aintree on April 5.

Ante-post favourite Bobs Worth spearheads 11 declarations for the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday.

Paul Carberry will be reunited with Monbeg Dude in tomorrow’s Betfred Grand National Trial after a merry-go-round of jockey bookings for Haydock’s big race.

Bradley looks to get his season back on track when he lines up in today’s Betfred Classic Chase at Warwick.

Tony McCoy does not feel Teaforthree’s chance in the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow is as clear-cut as the bookmakers seem to believe.

There was a huge shock in a dramatic opener at Newbury this afternoon as Crafty Roberto ran out a fortunate winner as favourite Grumeti crashed out.