Most of us like to pick out a horse as our selection for the iconic £1 million race or draw one in the workplace sweep. And it's that time of the year again on Saturday when the latest edition of the National, first run way back in 1839, graces the Merseyside turf.
Sponsored by Randox, the tapes for the race, over the marathon 4m2f distance, will rise at 4 pm, and you can follow the action live on ITV and Racing TV. To help you find your fancy, I have compiled this easy-to-follow pinstickers' guide to all of the runners, in racecard order, complete with their best odds at the time of writing. Comments on each horse are based on the assumption that the going will be Soft.
Those horses include the last two winners of the race, Corach Rambler and Noble Yeats but, amazingly, no fewer than 16 of the contenders are trained in Ireland by either Willie Mullins or Gordon Elliott. Only eight are trained in the UK.
It's exactly 40 years since I made my first trip to Aintree when Hallo Dandy landed the spoils, beating Greasepaint and Corbiere into second and third. Things have changed dramatically since those days, with the course's stands and facilities now among the best in the country and the track's famous 30 fences, such as Becher's Brook and The Chair, far less demanding and daunting in the interests of safety.
Animal welfare is now of paramount importance, and more new safety measures have been introduced for Saturday's race. The number of runners has been cut from 40 to 34 to reduce the risk of falls and accidents, while the start has been moved to prevent a headlong charge to the first fence that can result in the horses setting off too fast.
Hopefully, the measures will contribute to an entertaining, thrilling spectacle, from which all horses and riders return home safe and sound. Good luck!
MY 1-2-3-4-5 PREDICTION
1 MEETINGOFTHEWATERS
2 PANDA BOY
3 MR INCREDIBLE
4 MAHLER MISSION
5 CORACH RAMBLER
Best Outsider: CHAMBARD
Those horses include the last two winners of the race, Corach Rambler and Noble Yeats but, amazingly, no fewer than 16 of the contenders are trained in Ireland by either Willie Mullins or Gordon Elliott. Only eight are trained in the UK.
![The stats are firmly against Gavin Cromwell's talented challenger, one five in the race owned by JP McManus, who is seeking his third National triumph. Only one 7yo has won in the last 83 years, while no mares have won since 1951. But after success at the Cheltenham Festival in March, she's in the form of her life and she has the ability to go close if she lasts home (has never won beyond 2m5f).](https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjQ5M2JhMDI2LTQzZWMtNGQzYS05ZDkxLTNlNWM4ZGVhNjc0ODo2NzA2ZWIzYi0xZTU4LTRmMTQtYWNmNi1hMGIyYTVlNDIyMDk=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
25. Limerick Lace (14/1)
The stats are firmly against Gavin Cromwell's talented challenger, one five in the race owned by JP McManus, who is seeking his third National triumph. Only one 7yo has won in the last 83 years, while no mares have won since 1951. But after success at the Cheltenham Festival in March, she's in the form of her life and she has the ability to go close if she lasts home (has never won beyond 2m5f).Photo: Submitted
![Grand National-winning jockey David Mullins, trained by uncle Willie, has described this young chaser as "a future Gold Cup winner". He certainly looked smart when taking the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas (under Saturday's jockey Danny Mullins) and when third in a hot handicap at the Cheltenham Festival to maintain consistent progress this term. Can he defy the poor record of inexperienced 7yos, with 51 of 52 this century failing to win? Owner JP McManus certainly thinks so after buying him recently.](https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjRkMDc2YjU4LTk3OGMtNGUwOS04ZDU2LTgxYzlkYzIyNGU4NjplZTliNWI0ZC05OWY2LTQ0NjMtYmRkNy00ZGUxOTMwNTYwZGM=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
26. Meetingofthewaters (11/1)
Grand National-winning jockey David Mullins, trained by uncle Willie, has described this young chaser as "a future Gold Cup winner". He certainly looked smart when taking the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas (under Saturday's jockey Danny Mullins) and when third in a hot handicap at the Cheltenham Festival to maintain consistent progress this term. Can he defy the poor record of inexperienced 7yos, with 51 of 52 this century failing to win? Owner JP McManus certainly thinks so after buying him recently.Photo: Submitted
![Suitability for the 4m2f trip is the big question mark hovering over the chances of Gordon Elliott's 7yo. At each of the last two Cheltenham Festivals, he's travelled beautifully into contention in the 3m2f Ultima Handicap Chase only for his stamina to fail him. However, he's undoubtedly smart and also one of the most accomplished jumpers in the field.](https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjMzZWZiYTlkLTEyZDctNDUxZC05ZmUyLTgxYWQ4ZTQ2Yzk2Mzo1NTk1NTI0ZC1mZDEyLTRjZTgtOGNmZC1hZjYwNGE1YjA4MTk=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
27. The Goffer (66/1)
Suitability for the 4m2f trip is the big question mark hovering over the chances of Gordon Elliott's 7yo. At each of the last two Cheltenham Festivals, he's travelled beautifully into contention in the 3m2f Ultima Handicap Chase only for his stamina to fail him. However, he's undoubtedly smart and also one of the most accomplished jumpers in the field.Photo: Submitted
![One of the oldest horses in the race at 12, and to be saddled by the oldest trainer, 82-year-old Patrick Griffin, who runs a small stable in, believe it or not, Oldtown, County Dublin. Even after 55 career races, the horse is no back number and under three-time French champion jockey James Reveley, many fancy him to improve on last year's excellent effort when seventh.](https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjY3MGNjOWNkLTUxN2MtNGQzZi1iYzRmLTU0YTJmYmM0OWVlYTpkODMyODIwNC0yZjllLTQ1ZWQtODRmZS04M2Y4MmNhYWU0Mjc=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
28. Roi Mage (66/1)
One of the oldest horses in the race at 12, and to be saddled by the oldest trainer, 82-year-old Patrick Griffin, who runs a small stable in, believe it or not, Oldtown, County Dublin. Even after 55 career races, the horse is no back number and under three-time French champion jockey James Reveley, many fancy him to improve on last year's excellent effort when seventh.Photo: Submitted