The Week in Review: Sport

HENCEFORTH to be known as the Canned National, the world's nastiest obstacle race is tripped up by gross inefficiency as the annual Aintree betting spree is declared null and void. A false start for the Jockey Club, an even falser one for Manchester's Olympic bid. Small wonder record-breaking National Hunt jockey Peter Scudamore retires three days later.

Having apparently got lost somewhere in the woods of middle age, the Golden Bear bares his claws at Augusta once more as Jack Nicklaus, 53, shares the first-round lead in the 57th Masters with four fellow Americans.

Driven on by the durable Ian Durrant, Rangers remain in contention to become the masters of Continental club football with a dogged draw in Marseille that keeps Milan and a first European Cup final within reach.