There are just hours to go until the 2021 running of the world’s greatest steeplechase, the Aintree Grand National, which will be like no other.
It’s behind closed doors at Aintree but still over the same 30 fences that have produced legends for generations.
Record-breaking Irish Amateur Patrick Mullins has come in for the plum ride on Burrows Saint, one of four in the Grand National trained by his father Willie.
He replaces the injured Paul Townend and has a real chance of becoming the first amateur since 1990 to win the race, while the yard also saddles Accapella Bourgeois, Class Conti, and Cabaret Queen.
Discorama
The Paul Nolan/trained Discorama has been one of the best-backed Irish-trained horses in the build-up to the Aintree Grand National.
He’s only ever won twice in his career but has mixed it with the best in his career and long-distance chases have looked very much his forte for some time.
Discorama is trained in County Wexford by Paul Nolan, who was amongst the handlers celebrating victory at the Cheltenham Festival.
Any Second Now
21 Years after his Grand National win with Papillon, Ted Walsh is a man on a mission in Liverpool as he saddles one of the leading hopes in this year’s Aintree spectacular, Any Second Now.
He’ll be one of seven in the race to carry the colours of owner JP Mc Manus.
Ted’s daughter and assistant Katie was third on the stable’s Seabass in 2012 and is well placed to compare the family’s hope this year, with their two previous Aintree stars:
Grand National runners and riders – Aintree – Saturday – 5.15pm
1 Bristol De Mai (Daryl Jacob)
2 Chris’s Dream (Darragh O’Keeffe)
3 Yala Enki (Bryony Frost)
4 Ballyoptic (Sam Twiston-Davies)
5 Definitely Red (Henry Brooke)
6 Lake View Lad (Brian Hughes)
7 Burrows Saint (Patrick Mullins)
8 Magic Of Light (Robbie Power)
9 Acapella Bourgeois (Danny Mullins)
10 Talkischeap (Tom Cannon)
11 Tout Est Permis (Sean Flanagan)
12 Anibale Fly (Denis O’Regan)
13 Mister Malarky (Jonjo O’Neill Jr)
14 Kimberlite Candy (Richie McLernon)
15 Any Second Now (Mark Walsh)
16 Balko Des Flos (Aidan Coleman)
17 Alpha Des Obeaux (Jody McGarvey)
18 OK Corral (Derek O’Connor)
19 Takingrisks (Sean Quinlan)
20 Shattered Love (Kevin Sexton)
21 Jett (Sam Waley-Cohen)
22 Lord Du Mesnil (Nick Scholfield)
23 Potters Corner (Jack Tudor)
24 Class Conti (Brian Hayes)
25 Milan Native (Jamie Codd)
26 Discorama (Bryan Cooper)
27 Vieux Lion Rouge (Conor O’Farrell)
28 Cloth Cap (Tom Scudamore)
29 Cabaret Queen (Sean O’Keeffe)
30 Minellacelebration (Ben Poste)
31 Canelo (Tom Bellamy)
32 The Long Mile (Luke Dempsey)
33 Give Me A Copper (Harry Cobden)
34 Farclas (Jack Kennedy)
35 Minella Times (Rachael Blackmore)
36 Sub Lieutenant (Tabitha Worsley)
37 Hogan’s Height (Gavin Sheehan)
38 Double Shuffle (Jonathan Burke)
39 Ami Desbois (Kielan Woods)
40 Blaklion (Harry Skelton)
Reserves
41 Some Neck (Simon Torrens)
42 Secret Reprieve (James Bowen)
43 Kauto Riko (TBC)
44 Fagan (Harry Bannister)
