The John Smiths Grand National 2010 is unique sporting event. It is the horse race of dreams, the stuff of legends. No wonder the grand national steeplechase receives more attention than any other horse racing event. Since the inaugural running in 1839, when Lottery etched his name in grand national history as the first Grand National winner, victory in the Grand National 2010 has been the pinnacle of ambition. Owners, trainers and jockeys worldwide are fascinated by the thought of capturing the Aintree race.
It is the most famous horse race in the world and one of the biggest tests for racehorses and riders. Eastern European countries and Russia have sent horses to compete, while the Irish, America, French, Australia and Japan are just as keen to win the JohnSmiths Grand National 2010. The formidable home challenge takes some beating around two circuits of the Grand National course, length four and a half miles in all. The course has numerous famous grand national fences that are an integral part of Grand National history; Bechers Brook, the Canal Turn and the Chair, in all its awesome grandeur, are fences known around the globe.
Phrases of commentators such as “crossing the Melling Road” are built into people’s subconscious, while there is also the ‘elbow’, with the winning post in sight, where many a potential victor has felt the last reserves of stamina ebb away and with it, immortality.
There is nothing quite like that sensation of heart-clutching, wriggling expectation as the 40 horses for the John Smiths Grand National is persuaded into a fair line, ready to tackle the first of 30 grand national fences, with more focus on the often unfortunate starter than anywhere else.

AINTREE, THE TOPHAM TROPHY, OVER  2 MILES 5 FURLONGS AND 110YARDS  OF THE GRAND NATIONAL COURSE AND GRAND NATIONAL FENCES

Paul Nicholls saddles 4 runners in this intriguing contest, including Mr.Pointment a  course and distance winner. Nozic, the top weight has a good chance on his best form , but my idea of the most likely winner for the West Country magician would be New Little Bric. The ex-French horse blasted home last time out at Newbury, always being prominent in first time headgear. I can se him being ridden positively over the birch tomorrow and if he jumps will take the beating.

However, looking back through the form guide, I like two horses against him at massive odds. The Peter Bowen trained Always Waining has extremely uninspiring form figures, pulled up the last 3 times. He has been carrying big weights apart from the Welsh Grand National and is now reunited with Tom O’Brien who has won on him twice. He has a live outside chance as his last two wins came on good going, one of them at Aintree. His current odds of 40/1 look enticing, and let’s face it, over the National fences, there’s always a chance that a horse can be lit up by the experience. His racing weight of 10.7. looks ideal.

My main fancy is the talented but mistake prone horse from Andy Turnell’s
Stable, Bible Lord. This horse has won on all types of going and reverting to Denman’s 2007 Hennessey triumph, Bible Lord, still relatively unexposed, was travelling well on the heels of the leaders when his rider dropped his whip and could not encourage the horse to progress further. He has run some good races since but has been let down by bad blunders, but still managing to fill respectable positions in decent handicaps. Once again , last time out at  Cheltenham in the Freddie Williams Plate he tipped up. His jumping is a grave cause for concern, but he is undoubtedly a very talented animal  and is a 2and a half mile specialist, even if he was entered for the Grand National! I am hoping he will be shocked into jumping better by the formidable Aintree fences. Mad? Probably!