With the weights being announced for the 150 entries for this years Aintree Grand National the countdown begins over the next 8 weeks to the big day on the 5th April 2008. A lot of water will flow under the bridge before then as the field is whittled down to 40 runners who will all be competing for a total prize fund of £800,000.
The question at the moment is more about who will make the race than who will win it. The BBC One Show which goes out at 7.00pm each weekday are making a case for McKelvey whose preparation will be followed upto the big day. Claire Balding is orchestrating this for the BBC.
McKelvey was second last year and with a little more luck could easily have won the race. He sustained a tendon injury in the race but according to his trainer has made a full recovery and will be ready to run soon. The last National runner-up to go one better the next year was Red Rum when he gained his third win in 1977 after being second in 1975 and 1976. Prior to that, L’Escargot, the 1975 winner was runner-up in 1974. What good races there were in 1973, 1974 and 1975 between Red Rum and L’Escargot in the Aintree Grand National.
Nigel Twiston-Davies is very bullish about Knowhere for the race. In winning the Letheby and Christopher Chase at Cheltenham he certainly looked as though he could have gone round again.
Point Barrow was co-favourite for the race last year but fell at the first. Simon was another faller last year. He appeared to be still travelling strongly with six left to jump but came down at second Valentines. In the Letheby and Christopher Chase at Cheltenham he was travelling powerfully when he unseated Andy Thornton at the fourteeth. One to keep an eye on as is Mon Mome who has not run this season. He was runner-up to Halcon Genelardais in the Welsh National of December 2006.
There are so many good horses entered for this years Aintree Grand National. There can only be one winner. Over the next eight weeks I will come up with a short list, whether I can find the winner is another matter.