Out of love for the Grand National we must always be prepared to ask questions

There are countless reasons why the Grand National is by so huge a margin the biggest event in British horseracing, the only one that truly transcends the sport. One of the most obvious and undeniable factors is its unpredictability. You can rely on nothing once the tapes rise. That is particularly true now Sam Waley-Cohen has retired.

Even before he added his name to that most coveted roll of honour, his achievements over the Grand National fences had been extraordinary.

This was an amateur in name only, a jockey whose presence on the back of a horse was wholly advantageous to that animal's prospects, even when the opposition were partnered by professionals. Having recorded an astonishing seven victories over the sport's most iconic fences, including one in the Grand National itself, we can surely hail Waley-Cohen as the closest human equivalent to Red Rum we are ever likely to see.