The biggest horse racing event of the year is nearly upon us, with all the runners and riders for the 2018 Grand National currently gearing up for their big day at Aintree.
A total of 40 horses will line up for the world’s greatest steeplechase this Saturday with a £1 million total prize fund up for grabs.
All of the runners and riders will be aiming to complete the 4m 2f 74-yard course when the race begins on Saturday, April 14 at 5:15pm – but who is your money on?
Let's look at the runners, riders and who to look out for.
Grand National Racecard: Runners & Riders
Horse, Age, weight, trainer
1. THUNDER AND ROSES (IRE), 10, 10-05, Mouse Morris (RESERVE 1)
2. BLAKLION, 9, 11-10, Nigel Twiston-Davies
3. ANIBALE FLY (FR), 8, 11-08, Tony Martin IRE
4. THE LAST SAMURI (IRE), 10, 11-08, Kim Bailey
5. VALSEUR LIDO (FR), 9, 11-07, Henry de Bromhead IRE
6. TOTAL RECALL (IRE), 9, 11-05, Willie Mullins IRE
7. ALPHA DES OBEAUX (FR), 8, 11-04, Mouse Morris IRE
8. PERFECT CANDIDATE (IRE), 11, 11-03, Fergal O'Brien
9. SHANTOU FLYER (IRE), 8, 11-02, Richard Hobson
10. TENOR NIVERNAIS (FR), 11, 11-01, Venetia Williams
11. CARLINGFORD LOUGH (IRE), 12, 11-01, John Kiely IRE
12. DELUSIONOFGRANDEUR (IRE), 8, 10-05, Sue Smith (RESERVE 2)
13. TIGER ROLL (IRE), 8, 10-13, Gordon Elliott IRE
14. REGAL ENCORE (IRE), 10, 10-13, Anthony Honeyball
15. VIEUX LION ROUGE (FR), 9, 10-13, David Pipe
16. CHASE THE SPUD, 10, 10-12, Fergal O'Brien
17. WARRIORS TALE, 9, 10-12, Paul Nicholls
18. SEEYOUATMIDNIGHT, 10, 10-12, Sandy Thomson
19. GAS LINE BOY (IRE), 12 10-11, Ian Williams
20. THE DUTCHMAN (IRE), 8, 10-11, Colin Tizzard
21. PLEASANT COMPANY (IRE), 10, 10-11, Willie Mullins IRE
22. UCELLO CONTI (FR), 10, 10-10, Gordon Elliott IRE
23. SAINT ARE (FR), 12, 10-10, Tom George
24. WALK IN THE MILL (FR), 8, 10-04, Robert Walford (RESERVE 3)
25. RAZ DE MAREE (FR), 13, 10-09, Gavin Cromwell IRE
26. I JUST KNOW (IRE), 8, 10-08, Sue Smith
27. VIRGILIO (FR), 9, 10-08, Dan Skelton
28. BAIE DES ILES (FR), 7, 10-08, Ross O'Sullivan IRE
29. MAGGIO (FR), 13, 10-08, Patrick Griffin IRE
30. PENDRA (IRE), 10, 10-08, Charlie Longsdon
31. BUYWISE (IRE), 11, 10-08, Evan Williams
32. CHILDRENS LIST (IRE), 8, 10-08, Willie Mullins IRE
33. LORD WINDERMERE (IRE), 12, 10-07, Jim Culloty IRE
34. CAPTAIN REDBEARD (IRE), 9, 10-07, Stuart Coltherd
35. HOUBLON DES OBEAUX (FR), 11, 10-07, Venetia Williams
36. BLESS THE WINGS (IRE), 13, 10-06, Gordon Elliott IRE
37. MILANSBAR (IRE), 11, 10-06, Neil King
38. FINAL NUDGE (IRE), 9, 10-06, David Dennis
39. DOUBLE ROSS (IRE), 12, 10-06, Nigel Twiston-Davies
40/ ROAD TO RICHES (IRE), 11, 10-05, Noel Meade IRE
Reserve 4 VINTAGE CLOUDS (IRE), 8, 10-04, Sue Smith
Nigel Twiston-Davies’s Blaklion is among the favourites once again. The nine-year-old was one of the front-runners in last year’s race but faded towards the end and finished fourth. He could have better luck this time, after winning the Becher Chase over the Grand National fences in December. He’s available t 12/1.
Vieux Lion Rouge also looks at tempting prospect at around 33/1, having finished seventh and sixth in the last two renewals. Trainer David Pipe will be hoping to go one better this time and has form, having won with Comply Or Die at Aintree a decade ago.
Davy Russell will be in confident mood though, with 12/1 shot Tiger Roll among the favourites. He’s already won over four miles at the Cheltenham Festival and should have enough to see the course through, which will please owner Michael O’Leary no end.
28/1 shot Gas Line Boy finished fifth last year and could be one to keep an eye out for, though the each-way value bet for Irish racing fans has to be Carlingford Lough at 50/1. The John Kiely owned horse has enjoyed a career contesting the very best races and definitely looks well worth worth a punt.
