Alastair Down: One For Arthur's magnificent National was a triumph for those tested

It's Classic Chase day on Saturday and One For Arthur was the last horse to win the Warwick feature and go on to land the Grand National in the same season. To mark that achievement, we are reproducing a piece by the award-winning journalist Alastair Down published in the Racing Post on April 10, 2017 reflecting on his Aintree triumph.

It is all about staying power. Late of an evening in the pubs of Dublin when a group of friends have been giving the Guinness a fraction too much hammer and are thinking about going home for burnt offerings and some cold shoulder, one will say: “Come on boys, time to go.” 

But as the pints are drained there is always a lead-astray stalwart who will pipe up: “Now lads, we’re in trouble enough so one more will make no difference. Let’s have one for Arthur.”