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8:34am Friday 4th April 2008

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IF he can do it, if he can surge past the winning post and into racing folklore, he'll be the biggest priced winner in nearly two centuries of Grand National history.

With West Witton-based Ferdy Murphy's Joes Edge needing horses to drop out to find a spot in the 40-horse field, it is his son Paul who trains North Yorkshire's hope for the world's most famous horse race.

At 500-1 with bookies totesport, the chances don't look too hot for Contraband, the ten-year-old charge of the recently established Middleham handler.

But Foinavon in 1967, at 100-1, has shown that anything is possible when it comes to those tricky Aintree fences and four miles, four furlongs of energy-sapping turf.

His last run, when he pulled up during Denman's demolition of the field in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, was at similarly prohibitive odds but he has also competed in the Champion Hurdle.

Battling it out with National Hunt's very best has left Murphy of the opinion that the horse, whose wayward career highlight to date was victory in the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham in 2005 when trained by David Pipe, has something left in the locker.

Although he may not be making up the numbers, turning nine career victories into ten is going to take some doing, even for the optimistic Murphy.

Cloudy Lane, the eight-year-old with nine wins in 19 starts, is a solid favourite with most turf accountants and David Pipe's Comply Or Die - an eight length winner on his last start at Newcastle - is at 10-1.

Some money will also surely go the way of former winner Hedgehunter, who finished ninth last time around but may be getting a bit long in the tooth at 12, while Simon, Chelsea Harbour and Butler's Cabin are all also attracting solid support.

Following in the footsteps of famous Ferdy can't be easy, but Murphy junior has spent the last year building up his yard at Middleham, and the 33-year-old believes Contraband, who has been out with the Bedale Hunt on weekends, can provide a boost to his 16-horse stable.

They'll surely name a fence after him at Aintree if he can.

"Hopefully the National will bring out the best in him," he said. "He definitely deserves to take his place on the official ratings."

A brighter hope, if he gets in, may be dad's horse Joes Edge. Last year's hero Silver Birch won the race at 33-1, and those are the odds currently being offered for Murphy senior's 11-year-old.

Last year, Graeme Lee had to pull up on Joes Edge, who was the 8-1 joint-favourite for the National, but Murphy needs two horses to drop out if his seven-time winner is going to get the chance to redeem himself tomorrow.

Whatever happens, it's a given we'll all be glued to the box at 4.15pm to watch the latest instalment of thrills and spills at the famous Liverpool racetrack.