It's the Grand National on Saturday. The runners and riders have been announced and the going has changed from soft, good to soft in places to good to soft, soft in places.
Tony McCoy, fresh from his Cheltenham Gold Cup win with Synchronised, will be back on the British-trained thoroughbred as he bids for his second National win.
And for BBC viewers, it's a day of Claire Balding dwarfing Willie Carson. And as excellent as Balding is at presenting sport, they could have it so, so much better.
Why? Well, Alan Partridge, that's why.
A seasoned sports commentator during his pre-chat show days on The Day Today, Partridge has introduced many memorable phrases into the sporting lexicon.
"Liquid football", "eat my goal" and "Thriiiiiker" may rarely be aired by the 21st century commentator, but we like to think that was out of respect to Partridge's pioneering.
Yet his day at a rain-sodden race meeting arguably ranks as his finest television impression. Mixing with spectators, commentating on the races and interviewing the jockeys, his tireless endeavouring to report on the sport and ask the questions that matter are held in high esteem nearly 20 years on.
So in tribute to sport's favourite lost commentator, and ahead of Aintree, here are two of his other most memorable moments behind the mike.
WARNING: There is some strong language
Alan's enthusiasm and Colemanball-esque style won over viewers tuning into a 90s Sandown meeting:
Sir Alf Ramsey made a notable return in racing
His interviewing style is inimitable: