GRAND NATIONAL week is here!
We'll be bringing you ALL of the latest runners, odds and build up to the annual Aintree showpiece plus all of the results from the festival.
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- Grand National LATEST runners list
- Pick a winner with out five step guide
Follow ALL of the latest Aintree festival build up below…
- Craig Mahood
IN THE RAFFLE
Co-favourite for tomorrow's opener with Hitman is Nicky Henderson's Fusil Raffles.
Daryl Jacob's mount finished second to stablemate Chantry House in the Marsh Novices' Chase at Cheltenham in a race that saw warm favourite Envoi Allen fall early on.
But Nicky Henderson was delighted with his performance in finishing second and is hopeful of another big run tomorrow, telling Unibet:
He might have finished second to Chantry House but he ran a fantastic race.
The complexion of the race changed when Envoi Allen fell.
But you have to be there to take your chances when they present themselves to you.
I think he stays very well so Cheltenham will always suit him but I don't see why Aintree wouldn't suit.Nicky Henderson
- Craig Mahood
BLACKMORE'S TIME
The Queen of Cheltenham Rachael Blackmore has had her Grand National ride confirmed.
Bookies had already slashed the odds of Henry de Bromhead's Minella Times after assuming that would be Blackmore's choice.
And they have been proven correct as Blackmore sets out to make yet more history this year.
- Craig Mahood
EARLY START
Paul Nicholls string out earlier on this morning as their final preparations are underway ahead of tomorrow's opener.
He'll be looking to get off to a good start with Hitman in the Novice's Chase tomorrow!
- Craig Mahood
AINTREE GRAND NATIONAL FESTIVAL 2021
GOOD MORNING RACING FANS
A very warm welcome to Sun Racing's live coverage of another busy week of horse racing as we build up to Saturday's Randox Grand National.
Before then, we have some top class racing from Aintree which starts tomorrow afternoon.
The biggest names in UK jumps racing will head to Liverpool – some still on a high from Cheltenham while some will have been licking their wounds and hoping to bounce back.
A place in history, the thrill of victory… and a bulging bank account are all guaranteed for coming first in the big one on Saturday.
But just how much will they get?
Connections of Saturday's winner will pocket a whopping £375,000.
This will be divided between the horse's owners, the trainer and the jockey.
The total prize fund for this year's race is £750,000.
Six figures is nothing to be sniffed at but the effect of no punters on racecourses has been felt, with the overall pot falling £250,000 since three years ago.
And a supercomputer has predicted an upset is on the cards at the Grand National, with 33-1 and 40-1 outsiders tipped to shine.
Experts have run the data on all the previous Grand Nationals at Aintree – dating right back to 1863.
Boffins delved deep into the figures to look at the most common characteristics of winning horses.
They looked at the horses' ages, weights, names, the colour of the silks of the winning jockey and the name of the trainer.
One of those is the Willie Mullins-trained Class Conti, who comes in at 33-1.
The other was 40-1 chance The Long Mile, who is owned by Irish racing tycoon JP McManus.
It promises to be another stellar week and we build-up to the festival starting tomorrow!
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