It might only come three weeks after the Cheltenham Festival but Liverpool's famous Randox Health Grand National Festival at Aintree never fails to disappoint.
Whist most people have no idea who or indeed what Randox Health, the sponsors of the meeting actually do, the action on the track lived up to its billing.
Here is a look at the major talking points and highlights:
Arthur is Aintree King
One For Arthur became just the second Scottish-trained horse in Grand National history to win the world's most famous chase. Trained by Lucinda Russell, who became just the fourth female trainer to win the £1-million contest, the eight-year-old was given a superb ride by Derek Fox, who has having only his sixth ride back from injury after breaking his left wrist and right collarbone in a fall in March.
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Held up early on, the Milan gelding made stealthy progress entering the home straight to challenge for the lead, before quickening up well after the final fence to clear at the elbow. Only eight, he looks certain to come back for this race next year, whilst also providing his owners, The Golf Widows, who bought the horse for £50,000 at the Cheltenham sales to fill the void left by their husbands playing golf every weekend, with a wonderful success story.
Their husbands weren't going to miss the Grand National though and were also there to bask in the glory! A staying chaser who looks certain to improve with age, he could become a Grand National great.
Bite tears up Aintree rivals, while Henderson walking on Air with Buveur
Nicky Henderson extended his lead at the top of the jump trainers championship, which led Paul Nicholls to effectively admit that Henderson would be the new champion Jumps trainer in Britain, after Might Bite sharpened up his jumping and kept his mind on the job to record a decisive success in the G1 Mildmay Chase.
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Having seemingly thrown victory away in the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival after hanging violently to his right after jumping the final fence, the eight-year-old son of Scorpion rallied heroically to deny stable companion Whisper by a nose. However, Might Bite delivered a much more assured performance at Aintree, eventually scoring by two lengths under Nico De Boinville.
Speaking to Henderson after the race, the plan looks to be a tilt at the King George at Kempton Park in December.
Seven Barrows maestro Henderson was also impressed with the performance of Champion Hurdle winner Buveur D'Air, who took the step up to two miles and four furlongs in his stride in the Betway Aintree Hurdle. Always travelling well under Barry Geraghty, who had only just returned from injury, the progressive six-year-old son of Crillon jumped with real authority and quickened up nicely in the closing stages to score by five lengths from old stager My Tent Or Yours who once again filled the runner-up position behind his younger stable mate.
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A tilt at next year's Champion Hurdle again looks in the offing for Buveur D'Air and at the age of six, he looks to have plenty of improvement in him.
Defi Du Seuil reinstates Champion Hurdle credentials
The Philip Hobbs-trained Defi Du Seuil extended his unbeaten record to seven victories from seven starts in Britain with a comfortable, if not visually impressive success in the G1 Doom Bar Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle. Having hit the front in the home straight, the four-year-old son of Voix Du Nord laboured to victory but did still win the contest, highlighting that even if he wasn't at his best, he was still capable of winning.
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Hobbs immediately confirmed that the Champion Hurdle is the aim for the J P McManus-owned gelding and whilst five-year-old seasons can always be tough for juvenile hurdlers, he looks a class above the current crop and would have a live chance in the two mile hurdling championship next season.
Potts and Tizzard have got the Power
Wealthy owner Alan Potts' decision to appoint Gold Cup winning jockey Robbie Power as his retained rider, has been well and truly vindicated after Power rode four winners in Potts' colours at Aintree. Particular mentions must go to Fox Norton, who produced a compelling display in the G1 Melling Chase to win impressively on his first start over two miles and four furlongs.
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Bought by Potts earlier this season out of Neil Mulholland's yard, he finished second in the Champion Chase at this year's Cheltenham Festival, but could head for the King George. Finian's Oscar also produced an impressive display to plunder the G1 Mersey Novices' Hurdle. Having missed the Cheltenham Festival through injury, the six-year-old son of Oscar kept on gamely in the closing stages to win by three lengths. Bought by Potts for £250,000 after a point-to-point success, he looks a classy individual.
Yan proves Worthy three mile candidate
Yan Worth took the G1 Ryanair Stayers Liverpool Hurdle with a gutsy display in this three mile event, adding further fuel to the suggestion that a campaign thus far this term over two miles was the wrong idea by connections. The eight-year-old son of Norse Dancer did not jump well enough over two miles and despite clattering the third last in this contest under Barry Geraghty,
Alan King's charge showed this distance was much more up his street, gamely holding off the challenge of Supasundae, trained by Jessica Harrington, in the closing stages. It seems certain that connections will now stay at this trip next year and he is already being tilted towards a novice chase campaign. It will be fascinating to see how he gets on.
Lizzie Kelly warms up Aintree with Tea For Two success
Female jockey Lizzie Kelly registered her second Grade One victory after Tea For Two produced a gusty performance to fend off last year's winner Cue Card in the G1 Betway Bowl Chase. The victory atoned for the pair's mishap at the second fence in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, which ended up with Kelly on the deck having been unseated.
The eight-year-old son of Kayf Tara put that incident behind him though as he responded willingly to Kelly's urgings to register a neck success which reiterated just what a talented jockey Kelly is when given the opportunities in big races.
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It was great to see Malcolm Jefferson, who has battled ill health gain a deserved victory at Aintree after Double W's won the G3 Red Rum Handicap Chase. Given a super ride by Brian Hughes, Jefferson is one of the top handlers in the North and always a pleasure to talk to. That was one of the feel good stories of the week.
Tom George's The Worlds End was also impressive when landing the spoils in the G1 Doom Bar Sefton Novices' Hurdle. A faller at the second last when travelling well in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, he could compete for major staying hurdling honours next season.
Analysis By: Danny Archer