TRY Struggles Glory at 40-1 in tomorrow's Grand National.

That's my advice, largely because a turn-up could well be on the cards in the Aintree showpiece, with question-marks against so many of the leading fancies and the ground riding fast for the first time in months.

Unlike last year, when the race was run in a bog and only two horses completed without mishap, Struggles Glory will relish tomorrow's lively underfoot conditions, and is also the type of horse to devour the formidable National fences.

A former point-to-pointer and hunter chaser, sound jumping is his forte and he will receive every assistance from Ben Hitchcott, a hugely-talented young rider, who is as brave as a lion.

Struggles Glory has had a mixed campaign, but that is mainly due to the fact that he has struggled to cope with persistently rain-soaked ground.

Although unplaced, the 11-year-old was not disgraced on his last two outings, at Cheltenham and he had previously scored in game style at Wincanton, with Hitchcott in the saddle.

It's obviously a tough call to expect Struggles Glory to win the National, but he figures at the right end of the handicap in what looks a wide-open race and, in my opinion, he has a much better chance than his odds might indicate.

Tony McCoy, who this week made history by beating Sir Gordon Richards' record total of winners in a season, bids for his first Grand National victory on Blowing Wind, one of the favourites, who was successful last time out at Cheltenham.

Blowing Wind, who finished a remote third, after being remounted in last year's race, remains a doubtful stayer over this four-and-a-half miles and McCoy, I feel, will probably have to wait until another year to taste National glory.

Ad Hoc, another of the market-leaders, is too dodgy a jumper for my liking, while I would also have doubts about his stablemate Marlborough jumping a clear round. Among the other leading contenders, Alexander Banquet prefers softer ground, while Davids Lad and Beau (unlucky in this race last year) come from yards which have been in indifferent form, and Paris Pike, winner of the Scottish Grand National, has been below-par this season.

As for What's Up Boys, winner of the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup, he has the ability to win, but is a quirky character, who could well take one look at this course and turn up his nose in disgust.

Kingsmark is a horse with a solid chance, but is likely to find underfoot conditions a shade too lively.

Samuel Wilderspin has been in better form than ever this season and, off a handy mark, this accurate jumper promises to run a big race for trainer Richard Lee, but Smarty, last year's runner-up, has not done enough since to expect him to go one better.

Of the others, Inn At The Top, trained at Helperby near Boroughbridge by Jimmy Turner, will love the ground. But he has not had the best of preparations, having been pulled-up in his only start this season.

Down at the bottom of the handicap, Murt's Man can not be left out of the reckoning, and nor can Supreme Charm, another who relishes fast ground, and who has been trained very much for this race.

Wicked Crack, from Ireland, is another who has many of the right credentials to produce a bold bid.

All in all, a cracking race is in prospect, with the chances of a long-priced victory very much on the cards. Let's hope so anyway, and also hope that all horses and jockeys emerge unscathed from this 30-fence spectacular.

Updated: 12:16 Friday, April 05, 2002