The picture shows Snowy Morning in the yellow colours leading over the last in the Aintree Grand National of 2008. He went on to finish third to Comply or Die. In 2009 he finished ninth to Mon Mome. This year he is reunited with David Casey who rode him in 2008 and has been allotted less weight than in the last two years. He looks to have an outstanding chance this year based on his form of two years ago. Madison Du Berlais is a classy horse and although carrying top weight is well handicapped with all the other runners. Niche Market won the Irish Grand National in 2009 and has shown good form this season. He is an out and out stayer and a safe jumper (famous last words). Paddy Power are paying five places on the Aintree Grand National so there is a lot of each way value to be had. I hope to see Snowy Morning make it third time lucky. Madison Du Berlais and Niche Market could get into the places. Lets hope we see a great race and that all the horses and jockeys return safe and sound. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

The three day Aintree Grand National Meeting gets underway tomorrow (Thursday 8th) with seven races each day, the highlight of course will be the Grand National which will be run on Saturday. The feature race on Thursday will be the Totesport Bowl Chase worth £150,000.00 run over 3 miles 1 furlong. Imperial Commander (pictured) will be a warm order for this but Nacarat with Tony McCoy on board could make Imperial Commander pull out all the stops. This was the race that Madison Du Berlais won last year after Denman's fall. Madison Du Berlais has been declared for the Grand National this year and will consequently carry top weight of 11-10 meaning Mon Mome will carry 11-7, 7 lbs more than last year when winning at 100/1. Also on Thursday Big Bucks looks to have an excellent chance of taking the BGC Partners Liverpool Hurdle worth £100,000.00 run over 3 miles. On Friday the feature race will be the John Smiths Melling Chase worth £175,000.00 run over 2 miles 4 furlongs. Forpadydeplasterer with Davy Russell on board and Albertas Run with Tony McCoy on board are both well fancied for this. Old Monet's Garden is a course and distance winner here and with Richard Johnson on board looks as though he could be the each way value. We will know the 40 runners in the Grand National after the final declarations on Thursday. Madison Du Berlais is a classy horse and although burdened with top weight he is "well in " with the other runners. He ran in the race two years ago when only seven and got no further than the Canal Turn on the first circuit. Provided he does not remember that experience he could run very well. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

It is under two weeks now to the greatest race in the world, the John Smith's Grand National Steeplechase worth £925,000.00 run over 4 miles 4 furlongs at Aintree. Mon Mome (pictured) is the likely top weight and will carry 11 stone 12 lbs, 12 lbs more than he carried when winning last year by 12 lengths. The other placed horses last year, Comply or Die the 2008 winner, My Will and State of Play are all due to run again. Big Fella Thanks was sixth last year and will be ridden this year by Ruby Walsh for the owners of Denman. Ruby Walsh had the choice of Big Fella Thanks, Tricky Trickster or Snowy Morning. Snowy Morning was third in 2008 and ninth last year. He has been trained specifically for the race this year by Willie Mullins and will be on my short list. Tony McCoy will be riding Cant Buy Time for his boss J.P.McManus who will probably have four runners. Niche Market won the Irish Grand National last year and has shown good form this year. He was eliminated from the Grand National field last year as was Maljimar who could be another interesting runner this year and like Niche Market will also get in the final forty. There is another declaration stage next week. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

The John Smith's Handicap Chase worth £70,000 and run over 3 miles 1 furlong will be the race before the Grand National on Saturday. The connections of Maljimar (pictured at Cheltenham Trials last year) are undoubtly disappointed at not getting in the Grand National field but they might well get a 'consolation' prize here. The John Smith's Aintree Hurdle worth £170,000 and run over 2 miles 4 furlongs should be another cracking race to watch. Al Eile will be trying to win the race for the fourth time. Favourite is sure to be Celestial Halo only just beaten in the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle. The mares Whiteoak and United get a 7lb allowance from the other runners. Whiteoak is a course and distance winner and could run into a place at long odds. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

Well the wait is nearly over and this years Grand National will get under way at 4.15 pm on Saturday. My short list mentioned in earlier blogs has been reduced down to State of Play, but I have added Snowy Morning (pictured) who ran third last year. He will be my 'saver'. Willie Mullins the trainer believes he has too much weight and he will know a lot more about it than me but in my opinion the field is not as classy as last year and if Snowy Morning is fit and well I am sure he can run a big race again. State of Play comes here a fresh horse. He won the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury in 2006 and his trainer, Evan Williams, reports that he is in great form. All the latest news from Aintree can be found on their we site. Be lucky! For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

The Grand National Meeting gets underway at Aintree tomorrow with Denman (pictured) putting in an appearance in the Totesport Bowl Chase worth £160,000 run over 3 miles 1 furlong. He ran a terrific race in the Cheltenham Gold Cup but connections did say he would not run again this season. Lets hope he can win. I just remember Master Minded and Kauto Star not running to form after their exertions at Cheltenham last year. Denman might have most to fear from Exotic Dancer although he is also declared for the more valuable John Smiths Melling Chase on Friday. Air Force One ran well for a long way in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and might be better suited to this flatter track and 'good' going. He receives 5lbs from Denman as does Albertas Run who will also like the going. The first race is the John Smiths Liverpool Hurdle worth £100,000 run over 3 miles for which Big Bucks will be a warm order. He again had a hard race at Cheltenham. In the Matalan Novices Hurdle worth £130,000 run over 2 miles Walk On and Starluck renew rivalry again. Walk On should win this but he again will be favourite. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

It is now only five days to the greatest race in the world for us National Hunt lovers. According to the official Aintree site the first Grand National was run in 1839 and was won by Lottery. However in the book Gallant Sport written by John Penfold he argues that the first Grand National was run in 1836. All I know is that the first televised Grand National was run in 1960 which is when my love affair with the race started. The winner that year was Merryman II (pictured) ridden by Gerry Scott and trained by Neville Crump. Twelve days prior to the big event, Gerry Scott, whose second ride in the Grand National it was to be, broke his collar bone in two places. Refusing to stand down, Scott rode tied and strapped, 'feeling', as he said later, 'no pain'. I do not think that would happen today. Merryman II took control of the race at Valentines and eventually won the race by fifteen lengths. I was one very happy punter. The weather forecast for this week is fine and the going should be 'good' come Saturday. This will help those horses high in the handicap. War of Attrition will now carry second top weight with the withdrawal of those above him in the handicap. There was a lot of money reported for him last week from both sides of the Irish Sea and his odds have come down dramatically. He is trained by Mouse Morris and races under the name of Gigginstown House Stud, as do all horses owned by the no nonsence Ryanair chief executive Michael OLeary who sponsors the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Incidently there was no truth in the rumour that the jockeys in the Ryanair Chase had to pay £25 to weigh in! War of Attrition won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2006 and was later off the course from December 2006 until October 2008 through injury. He must have a big chance if back to his best form. The same owner and trainer also run Hear The Echo who won the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse in March last year. Ruby Walsh has chosen to ride My Will and his mount will receive 5lbs from War of Attrition. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

It is now only two weeks away to the Grand National Handicap Chase, the greatest race in the world, which will be run over 4 miles 4 furlongs at Aintree. The race is worth a staggering £900,000 this year. There are 88 horses declared at the moment and this will be reduced to 40 on the day of the race. I am waiting to see which horse Ruby Walsh decides to ride. Will it be one from Willie Mullins yard or one from Paul Nicholls? Snowy Morning (pictured centre) from the Willie Mullins yard ran third in the race last year but he has shown little form so far this season. My Will from the Paul Nicholls yard ran a good race in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and seems well handicapped in the Grand National. I would imagine this will be the one Ruby Walsh goes for. Then we have Tony McCoy and his boss J.P.McManus trying to win the race for the first time. It will be interesting to see which one of J.P. McManus's Tony McCoy decides to ride. At the moment horses on my short list for the race are Character Building, Rambling Minster, War of Attrition, State of Play and whatever Ruby Walsh and Tony McCoy decide to ride. The going looks as though it will be "good" which will help those high in the handicap. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

The Grand National Meeting of 2008 was a very rewarding one for jockey Timmy Murphy, trainer David Pipe and owner David Johnson. Timmy Murphy rode a super race on Our Vic to catch Kauto Star right on the line in the Betfair Bowl Chase on the Thursday. Our Vic has been better than ever this season since sporting the headgear. The David Johnson colours were in the winners enclosure again after a thrilling Grand National. Timmy Murphy gave Comply or Die a very cool ride. He was always travelling well in the leading group of runners. Snowy Morning ran well to be third and still only eight I am sure he will be back next year. He helped recover some of my stake lost on Hedgehunter who completed the course again. His cause was not helped by D'Argent crashing into him when falling 4 fences out. Tony McCoy and Butlers Cabin were still travelling strongly when falling at Bechers second time round. I am sure Butlers Cabin will be back for another crack at the race next year. He is also still only eight. On the day the best horse won and I would expect Comply or Die, who is nine, will also be back at Aintree next year. Earlier in the afternoon the Irish owner Michael Ryan had "borrowed" Timmy Murphy to ride his Al Eile in the Aintree Hurdle. This was another smashing ride from Timmy Murphy and the partnership were winning the race for the third time. For me the Grand National signifies the end of the National Hunt season. Chasing and Hurdling is far more exciting than Flat Racing but I expect in a couple of weeks we will start talking about the first Classics to be run at Newmarket on the 3rd and 4th of May. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

Well we now know the runners and riders for the Aintree Grand National of 2008. Hedgehunter carries top weight of 11-12 and he is the one Ruby Walsh has decided to ride. This will be Hedgehunter's fifth appearance in the great race. In 2004 with David Casey on board he tried to make all the running which drained his reserves and he fell at the last. This is the only time he has fallen in his career. In 2005 he fairly stormed to victory under Ruby Walsh and then in 2006 he was runner-up to Numbersixvalverde (pictured) carrying top weight of 11-12. Last year he had an interupted preparation due to a jarred knee and was off for 4 months. He ran a good race until 3 out when lack of condition told. This year he appears to have had a trouble free preparation. His trainer Willie Mullins is happy with him and although Hedgehunter is now twelve years old, I believe he is the one to beat. The great Red Rum ran in the race five times. His record was three wins and two seconds. His third win came at the age of twelve carrying top weight. He was given a great ride by Tommy Stack. I hope that thirtyone years later Hedgehunter and Ruby Walsh can repeat the feat. Of all J.P.McManus's runners Tony McCoy has chosen to ride Butler's Cabin. He won the Irish Grand National last year and he will certainly stay the trip of four and a half miles. Snowy Morning also trained by Willie Mullins was antepost favourite for the Grand National at one stage and if you forget his last run he must also have a great chance. Of course Cloudy Lane in the same ownership as Hedgehunter is a very warm favourite after his three wins this season. He completes my short list of four. May it be a great race and all the horses come back safe and sound. Enjoy! For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

With only two weeks to go the runners and riders for this years Aintree Grand National are still very sketchy. The race will be worth £800,000.00 this year and not surprisingly 115 entries stood their ground at the second forfeit stage this week. The maximum field of 40 runners looks assured which means 75 horses will have to come out. The next confirmation stage for the Aintree Grand National is the five-day stage on Monday 31st March. The colours of Trevor Hemmings could hold the key to finding the winner of this years race. He has the current favourite Cloudy Lane. Cloudy Lane has won his last three starts for trainer Donald McCain whose father Ginger trained the winner of the race four times, most famously with Red Rum in 1973,1974 and 1977. Trevor Hemmings also has that old favourite Hedgehunter, trained by Willie Mullins, who will carry top weight and has an excellent record at Aintree. Willie Mullins also trains Snowy Morning. It will be interesting to see if Ruby Walsh rides either of these. I guess we will know a bit more after 31st March. Heres counting down. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".