WHEN was the last time a North Yorkshire trained horse won the Grand National? You have to go back to 1960 and Merryman II, saddled by the legendary Captain Neville Crump, to find the most recent county winner of the world’s greatest steeplechase.

That victory brought to an end a golden era which had seen National wins for North Yorkshire’s Sheila’s Cottage (1948 at 50-1), Freebooter (1950 at 10-1) and Teal (1952 at 100-7).

But half a century later, there is the possibility that barren run might just come to an end.

The entry list for the four-mile marathon race was revealed earlier this week and, among the 123 names, there are eight possible representatives from the county.

Top of those names, and the horse with the most likely chance should he get in, is Character Building, trained by Settrington handler John Quinn.

The nine-year-old is 33-1 with bookmakers to claim the prize and is one of Quinn’s most consistent performers.

With one eye on the handicapper, Character Building ran last weekend in the £100 Welcome Bonus art skyvegas.com hurdle – finishing a creditable third behind Laredo Sound and Seraaphim.

Rated 10lb higher over fences, Quinn was entering him in a bid to preserve his chase rating. At two miles, three and a half furlongs, the Doncaster trip was what he likes most and many observers think Aintree on April 5 is his target.

Quinn is more circumspect, arguing the National could be just one of the plans for his talented jumper.

And although he’s hardly delighted by the prospect of Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Denman’s possible appearance in the race – a starter who would throw the handicap into chaos – Quinn says that wouldn’t necessarily deter him handing Character Building a tilt at the £900,000 contest.

“He’s in the Gold Cup at Haydock (on February 14),” he said. “We ran him at Doncaster just to keep him out of the reach of the handicapper and he has been pretty solid all season.

“He could just do with winning one now and I hope he will soon. I, like everyone else, hopes Denman doesn’t run. Character Building would be only just out of the handicap if he didn’t line up.”

Character Building’s participation may still be a little up in the air, but Lothian Falcon will be a definite runner – as long as he can hit the heights of last season.

Peter Maddison’s ten-year-old hasn’t been seen on the track since a creditable fifth in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown last April.

He’s ranked at 40-1 for the National thanks to a stunning win in the Grade 3 Rowland Meyrick Chase at Wetherby in December 2007, and Skewsby-based Maddison, who only has two horses in training, reckons Lothian Falcon is raring to go.

The williamhill.com – Live Casino Games Hurdle at Doncaster tomorrow is set to be the scene of his reappearance, but Lothian Falcon is also being campaigned with the Grade 3 Haydock Park Gold Cup Chase and the Grade 3 Racing Post Chase at Kempton in mind.

Positive displays will see him travel to Liverpool, even though former jump jockey Maddison admits it is a race he personally cannot stand.

“He’s definitely not being entered for fun,” he said. “It’s not a race I love to be honest, but I think he is tailor made for it. He stays, he jumps and he has the right style of jumping.

“There’s serious prize money on offer and it would be superb (if he could run and get into a place). He would be a dangerous horse at the bottom of the handicap. I wouldn’t want to take him on.”

Malko de Beaumont, Pickering trainer Alan Brown’s Haydock Tommy Whittle Chase star, is also an entry although it’s unlikely at this stage he will get in the field.

And let’s not forget West Witton’s Ferdy Murphy, who currently has four lined up.

Hot Weld, the Betfred Gold Cup winner at Sandown and Scottish Grand National winner, is in the early field along with L’Antartique, You’re Special and Nine de Sivola.

Having not been on the track since April 2007, Hot Weld has a few questions to answer while Nine de Sivola, who also has a Cheltenham Festival entry, is 50-1 for the National with the layers.

The countdown to victory is well under way.

* Don’t miss Steve Carroll’s racing blog tomorrow for live updates from a good card at Wetherby Racecourse. The highlight of the day is the Grade 2 Towton Novices’ Chase. Log on to get the latest news and views from the course.