Russell Lynch discovers Diageo is spreading the word about Johnnie Walker in the world’s second-biggest economy

Scotch whisky exports hit a record £4.3bn last year, although sales were up only 1 per cent as widespread austerity took its toll on the bottom line.

The obsession with its climax, for better or worse, tends to mean that the first two days of the John Smith's Grand National meeting can be unjustly overlooked. But some of the sport scheduled at Aintree before Saturday is more than a match for the championship events at Cheltenham last month – not least now that Sprinter Sacre has been diverted there to try two and a half miles on Friday.

No one cares how Irish or how un-Irish you are; we can all still celebrate

The rest of the card was mostly attrition for the punters

The Festival has lost none of its intensity since expanding to a fourth day in 2005, but those who counselled that "less is more" may yet feel they had a point when they contemplate today's card. Elevated to the Thursday centrepiece, the Ladbrokes World Hurdle has hitherto borrowed lustre first from Inglis Drever, who won three times in four years, and then from Big Buck's, whose record-breaking spree of 18 wins has incorporated the last four runnings.

Book sail

Serves 4

There is a big hole in the World Hurdle where Big Buck's used to be and everybody is desperate to fill it.

When Rabbie Burns wrote his poem eulogising the virtues of whisky as the “soul o’plays and pranks” worthy of “a bardie’s gratfu’ thanks”, it is less than likely that he had in mind a spirit distilled in Perfidious Albion.

Whether it's a peaty Islay or a spicy Speyside, we've got the perfect wee dram for your Burns Night celebrations...

Top Scotch

The loss of Cheltenham today was rued not only by thousands who had relied on the meeting for their customary New Year's Day hangover cure, but also by those seeking a remedy for Oscar Whisky. Nicky Henderson had hoped to give the horse another run over the intermediate distance of two and a half miles, but instead ended up parading him to Channel 4 viewers in a live broadcast from his stables. And the trainer disclosed that waterlogging at Cheltenham had now forced his hand, in the ongoing debate over Oscar Whisky's eligibility for big races over two miles or three.