Amateur rider Sam Waley-Cohen, who pulled off last month’s Cheltenham Gold Cup on Long Run, can complete a dream double at Aintree tomorrow by winning the £950,000 John Smith’s Grand National on Oscar Time.

Trained in Ireland by Martin Lynch, who sent out Numbersixvalverde to win the 2006 National, Oscar Time has strong credentials.

In his prime at the age of ten, he is well weighted on 10st 9lb and has been prepared with this race in mind since finishing second in the Irish National at Fairyhouse and occupying third spot behind The Midnight Club in the Bobbyjo Chase in February on heavy ground on the same course.

He does, of course, have to turn the tables on The Midnight Club, the ante-post favourite and the mount of Ruby Walsh, to win tomorrow, but Aintree’s better ground may well hand him the edge and Lynch is reportedly delighted with the preparation of this strong-travelling, bold-jumping performer.

The Aintree roof would be raised if Ballabriggs were to win for Donald McCain.

His father, the legendary ‘Ginger’ McCain trained four Grand National winners, including three-times winner Red Rum, and McCain junior has shown himself to be a trainer of the highest calibre.

Ballabriggs makes plenty of appeal. A big, strapping horse and sound jumper, he won the Kim Muir Chase at last year’s Cheltenham Festival. Twice a winner over hurdles this season, he lost no caste when second to Skippers Brig at Kelso last month. Jason Maguire has the mount.

Sir Alex Ferguson, as part-owner, is represented by What A Friend, who finished fourth in last month’s Gold Cup. That performance has seen the gelding’s handicap rating rise 15lb in future races.

He did, though, have a very tough race at Cheltenham and he may find the National challenge too tough to relish, especially with 11st 6lb to carry.

Last year’s winner Don’t Push It, again the mount of Tony McCoy, has a massive 11st 10lb to carry this time around and will be bidding to become the first horse since Red Rum in 1974 to win back-to-back Nationals.

He will run well, but a career-best peformance is required for him to score again.

It is 51 years since North Yorkshire last won the Grand National –with the Capt Neville Crump-trained Merryman ll from Middleham – and there are three representatives this time around from the county.

Big Fella Thanks – sixth and fourth in previous runnings of the race when trained by Paul Nicholls – is now with West Witton handler Ferdy Murphy, who has trained him with this race firmly in mind. Graham Lee, successful in Amberleigh House in 2004, will be in the saddle and can expect a good ride, but Big Fella Thanks lacks stamina.

Norton trainers John Quinn and Malcolm Jefferson saddle Character Building and King Fontaine respectively.

Character Building finished seventh last year under Nina Carberry, who again has the mount. He can be expected to produce a similar performance once more at this advanced stage of his career.

King Fontaine, a useful gelding, who finished a good fifth at last month’s Cheltenham Festival, can sometimes look a suspect jumper. But if he can get adapt to these unique fences, he could run well under Denis O’Regan, who finished second in last year’s race on Black Apalachi.

Yet another horse in with a fighting chance is Calgary Bay, who will love the ground and who promises to be in his element over these obstacles. He could be a surprise package at 33-1.

Thirty fences and four and a half miles stand between the 40 starters and Grand National glory. It promises to be yet another thrilling spectacle.


Tom’s top four National tips

1. Oscar Time (NAP)
2. The Midnight Club
3. Calgary Bay
4. Ballabriggs