Fergie revels in his Liverpool treble as Tiger Roll struggles on wrong pitch

As Aintree was without the 30,000 locals who would normally be here for the opening afternoon of the Grand National festival, Sir Alex Ferguson's fabulous treble was greeted with near silence, which is exactly how it would have been greeted had there been almost 30,000 locals in attendance.

Ah, but we jest, and so did Ferguson, who made a similar joke about his popularity on Merseyside after Protektorat, Monmiral and Clan Des Obeaux gave the former Manchester United manager the sort of success in Liverpool that would once have brought cheer to his heart. It did so once again.

The heart was undoubtedly gladdened to see this fabulous festival revived after its one-year hiatus. At the corresponding stage of this week last year we had only a virtual horserace to anticipate.