If Giant’s Causeway was the iron horse of flat racing then it is no exaggeration to describe Un De Sceaux as the National Hunt equivalent.

He is a few days down the track but Paddy Kennedy is still floating on air after guiding Magic Of Light to finish second in Aintree Grand National, on his first ever ride at the track.

It was a case of bringing it all back home — again.

The Tory zealots, the European Research Group, may not maintain a wine cellar, but if it did, it is unlikely that the faction’s sommelier would have been busy serving champagne after Saturday’s Grand National.

Irish racing's hero, Tiger Roll, has paraded in Summerhill in Meath after winning back-to-back Grand Nationals at Aintree yesterday.

Tiger Roll, trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Davy Russell, has won the Randox Health Grand National at Aintree for the second year in a row.

Tiger Roll has been called both a “little rat” by his owner Michael O’Leary, and “lion-hearted” by jockey Davy Russell — but the latter quality will be needed if he is to emulate the legendary Red Rum and win back-to-back Grand Nationals at Aintree today.

Last year's winner Tiger Roll features among 69 horses left in Saturday's Randox Health Grand National at Aintree following the confirmation stage.

Any doubts surrounding Tiger Roll’s participation in the Aintree Grand National were allayed by his trainer Gordon Elliott yesterday, who also revealed that the gutsy nine-year-old may well be one of a number of his charges who could follow up in the Boylesports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.

Tiger Roll is fast becoming one of the most popular racehorses in the land. While being bred for the flat and winning an Aintree Grand National is not unique – the last multiple victor of the Liverpool feature more than 40 years ago, Red Rum was a dead-heat winner on his debut over five furlongs – but the versatility and sheer breadth of achievement of the Gigginstown House Stud-owned and Gordon Elliott-trained nine-year-old takes some beating.

Red Rum will always be associated with Aintree and the Grand National. A gelding bred to be a sprinter transformed the ailing race into the behemoth it is now and in the process became a celebrity that opened shops, starred on television shows and sold merchandise. Through it all, Derek Critchley, a key member of the Ginger McCain team, had a front row seat, writes Daragh Ó Conchúir

Peter Jackson recaps the weekend’s Six Nations action. 

Teenage sensation Jack Kennedy, who has not yet turned seventeen, registered his first wins as a 3lb. claimer when completing a hard-earned double on Steamboat Bill and Finea in Down Royal yesterday.

Grand National-winning trainer Donald McCain believes horses have been the forgotten factor in the decision to put back the start of the world’s greatest steeplechase to 5.15pm.

Broadcasting legend Peter O’Sullevan, who has died at the age of 97, was the man who provided the soundtrack to racing’s unfolding drama for nigh on 50 years.

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.

Thirty four years have elapsed since Bob Champion partnered Aldaniti to one of the most celebrated wins in the illustrious history of the Grand National. But now the legendary fundraiser hopes that a certain AP McCoy can guide Shutthefrontdoor to victory this afternoon and produce “the best fairytale for the race since when we won!”

A friend of well-known horse breeder Lucy Stack and her trainer husband, James ‘Fozzy’ Stack, found her body in her bedroom after Mr Stack asked the friend to check on her, an inquest heard yesterday.

It seems fitting that the first officially recorded Grand National winner way back in 1839 was called Lottery.

So, everyone is happy with last Saturday’s Grand National at Aintree then, the BHA, RSPCA (fairly), press and, of course, Aintree itself.

Auroras Encore could bid to emulate the legendary Red Rum by attempting to complete a rare National double in the same season.

Trainer Sue Smith reports Auroras Encore to be "unbelievably well" the morning after his glorious triumph in the John Smith's Grand National yesterday.

Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies has insisted the latest horse death on the Grand National course at Aintree was "one of those things".

Bookmakers believe punters will go angling for Seabass to put Katie Walsh into the record books as the first female jockey to win the John Smith’s Grand National.

Grand National-winning jockey Mick Fitzgerald believes previous experience over the famous fences is a vital asset for this year’s winner.

Timeform say Neptune Collonges’ John Smith’s Grand National win at Aintree last Saturday is the best they have ever rated.

Last year’s Aintree hero Ballabriggs features among the 82 entries for the John Smith’s Grand National on April 14.

Liverpool Cathedral was filled with heart-felt memories of one of racing’s greatest characters as a thousand-strong congregation celebrated the life and times of Ginger McCain.

GRAND National-winning owner John Halewood led the tributes to Aintree legend Ginger McCain, who died yesterday, aged 80, after a short illness.

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.

Donald McCain had “no complaints” after ante-post favourite Ballabriggs was allotted a weight of 11st in the 2011 John Smith’s Grand National.

DONALD MCCAIN, a man with a famous pedigree, saddled Overturn to land the Guinness Galway Hurdle at Ballybrit yesterday, in front of an attendance of 44,418.

AIDAN COLEMAN is counting down the hours until what he hopes will be the ride of his life on Mon Mome in the John Smith’s Grand National today.

BETWEEN now and Saturday the question which is going to be on just about everyone’s lips is “what’s going to win the National?’

Soft-ground loving Black Apalachi earned a 33-1 quote for the John Smith’s Grand National with Ladbrokes after a superb round of jumping secured him a win over the famous fences at Aintree.

TIMMY Murphy admits he has played safe in choosing Comply Or Die over Vodka Bleu as his mount in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree tomorrow.

Timmy Murphy admits he has played safe in choosing Comply Or Die over Vodka Bleu as his mount in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday.

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

DONALD McCain admits he can see why Cloudy Lane is such a red-hot favourite for the John Smith’s Grand National.

Donald McCain admits he can see why Cloudy Lane is such a red-hot favourite for the John Smith’s Grand National.

Snowy Morning is now the 10-1 clear favourite for the John Smith’s Grand National following the publication of the weights.