THERE are other races at other meetings at other points of year that carry with them a greater level prestige within the sport of horse racing but nothing engages the wider public quite like the Grand National.

Last Saturday’s Aintree spectacular is still the greatest race of them all with a reach that outstrips all other races and seven days ago it delivered a result for the ages as Minella Times and Rachael Blackmore crossed the line in front of their unconsidered stablemate Balko Des Flos.