Sportswriter supreme Hugh McIlvanney is honoured in Aintree Hall of Fame

Legendary sports writer Hugh McIlvanney, who died in January aged 84, was on Saturday inducted into Aintree's Grand National Hall of Fame.

McIlvanney, who covered many of the great sporting moments during his career, was a big racing supporter and his plaque will sit alongside such as Red Rum, Sir Peter O'Sullevan and Foinavon at the Aintree Legends bar.

McIlvanney's wife Caroline North McIlvanney was present at the induction and said: "Hugh loved horseracing and the Grand National, he covered the race for well over 50 years.

"Of all the races that he saw, he loved those in which history was made. Hugh would have been deeply honoured by his induction into the Hall of Fame at the home of the Grand National, it was a race he described as an 'annual blood-quickening blend of the epic and the personal'.

"He would also have been astonished, as an outside observer of events on the racecourse, to see his name immortalised alongside so many of the great champions, equine and human, who have thrilled us all with their heroic feats at Aintree."

Patient Daniel and Alder Hey featured in racecard

The name of Daniel Bell made an appearance on the official Randox Health Grand National racecard as the 41st jockey thanks to Aintree's excellent decision to pay tribute to Alder Hey Children's Charity.

The charity, which was honoured with the 41st runner distinction, raises vital funds to help Alder Hey Children's Hospital, which cares for 275,000 patients and their families every year.

Alder Hey Children's Charity was honoured as the 41st Grand National runner

One such patient was Daniel, who at the age of three was diagnosed with a brain tumour and sent to Alder Hey.

Following a three-hour operation to have brain fluid drained, he then underwent nine hours of surgery to remove the tumour. There followed extensive care in the hospital, whose efforts resulted in the happiest of outcomes, with Daniel now eight years old and doing amazingly well.

Jockey Club Racecourses first created the special honorary berth in 2017 for five-year-old neuroblastoma campaigner Bradley Lowery, whose enormously brave battle was lost in July 2017.

Last year the 41st place was taken by three-year-old Edie Molyneux, who suffered from a rare brain tumour and sadly passed away in October.

For the must-have offers for the Grand National festival tap the free bets button on the racecard on the website and app or go to racingpost.com/free-bets