Forty horses line up for the £1 million Randox-sponsored showpiece, primed to tackle 30 fences, many of which have household names such as Becher's Brook, The Chair, Valentine's Brook and the Canal Turn.
Those fences are not as fearsome as they once were. Quite rightly, animal welfare takes first priority now. But the historic race, which dates back to 1839, is still a thrilling spectacle.
Last year, it was forced behind closed doors by the pandemic, having been cancelled altogether in 2020. But it's back in all its glory on Saturday (5.15 pm) and will be enjoyed by 70,000 on course and a global TV audience of up to 600 million people. You can watch it live on ITV.
It remains the one day of the year when most of us have a flutter, whether it be a couple of quid each/way or a go on the sweep at work or our local pub. Bookies expect about £200 million to be bet on the great race.
This year's running looks as competitive as ever, even though it lacks the presence of two-times winner TIGER ROLL, who was retired after last month's Cheltenham Festival.
Last year's race made history when Rachael Blackmore became the first female rider to triumph aboard MINELLA TIMES. They are back for more, but the horse has been burdened by top weight and has been in poor form.
Amazingly, ten of the first 11 places 12 months ago were filled by horses trained in Ireland. Once again, Irish handlers such as Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott are well represented.
So in trying to find the winner, do you study the form or do you stick a pin in? To help you decide, our guide pinpoints 12 horses likely to have a say in the outcome. A couple of lively outsiders, Mount Ida and Fortescue, just failed to make the cut!
Please note: the numbers do NOT relate to their order on the racecard. And the prices quoted were correct at the time of going to press.
Good luck!
MY VERDICT - 1 Escaria Ten, 2 Any Second Now, 3 Fiddlerontheroof, 4 De Rasher Counter, 5 Delta Work
Last year, it was forced behind closed doors by the pandemic, having been cancelled altogether in 2020. But it's back in all its glory on Saturday (5.15 pm) and will be enjoyed by 70,000 on course and a global TV audience of up to 600 million people. You can watch it live on ITV.
![Shrewd Irish trainer Martin Brassil saddled Numbersixvalverde to win the Grand National in 2006, a year after he'd landed the Irish version, and he aims to complete an Aintree double with a similar horse in this 8yo, who he considers to be a classier animal. The stayer has had only six runs over fences and would probably prefer softer ground than he's likely to find at Aintree. But he proved his wellbeing with a big handicap win in January.](https://www.chad.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjY5ZDc4NWY0LTIxODktNGVlOC04NjMwLTY5NzM2NDRjYWNkNzpiZTA4YjgxMC05MWI5LTRmNTEtOTlkZS0yOWYyMmM0YjYyOGM=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
9. Longhouse Poet (16/1)
Shrewd Irish trainer Martin Brassil saddled Numbersixvalverde to win the Grand National in 2006, a year after he'd landed the Irish version, and he aims to complete an Aintree double with a similar horse in this 8yo, who he considers to be a classier animal. The stayer has had only six runs over fences and would probably prefer softer ground than he's likely to find at Aintree. But he proved his wellbeing with a big handicap win in January. Photo: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
![Yet another flagbearer for the Gordon Elliott/Gigginstown Stud combination and although he's getting on a bit (11yo), the trainer considers him well handicapped. After winning a Grade One event as a novice, beating a subsequent National runner-up, he suffered a losing streak of nine before bouncing back to form when tackling an extreme stamina test in February. Should be primed and ready after a quiet prep run at Cheltenham three weeks ago.](https://www.chad.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjcxYjk0NGJmLTlhNTctNDA5YS1iM2MzLTg0YjM0N2E1MWRlMjo3ZThlODE4Ni01Zjg5LTRmNWQtOTIwZS0xODE1ZmYxMjY4YzU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
10. Death Duty (40/1)
Yet another flagbearer for the Gordon Elliott/Gigginstown Stud combination and although he's getting on a bit (11yo), the trainer considers him well handicapped. After winning a Grade One event as a novice, beating a subsequent National runner-up, he suffered a losing streak of nine before bouncing back to form when tackling an extreme stamina test in February. Should be primed and ready after a quiet prep run at Cheltenham three weeks ago. Photo: Getty Images
![Not since 1951 has a mare taken the Aintree spoils, and only three greys have ever won the race. But the odds are definitely not stacked as heavily against Charlie Longsdon's 10yo as those stats suggest. Progressive and consistent, she has it all to do with Escaria Ten on their Cheltenham Festival clash last term, but she's rattled off a hat-trick this season, including over these unique fences in December when jumping superbly. The softer the ground, the better.](https://www.chad.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmEzMzYyN2E5LTAxMGItNDY3Ny04OGU5LTBlZGMyMGQ5YTBmMjo5ZTljZjdlZS0xNzE2LTRlYTYtYjZlYi04MDYyODI3NWM4MGY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
11. Snow Leopardess (8/1)
Not since 1951 has a mare taken the Aintree spoils, and only three greys have ever won the race. But the odds are definitely not stacked as heavily against Charlie Longsdon's 10yo as those stats suggest. Progressive and consistent, she has it all to do with Escaria Ten on their Cheltenham Festival clash last term, but she's rattled off a hat-trick this season, including over these unique fences in December when jumping superbly. The softer the ground, the better. Photo: Tim Goode/Getty Images
![The handicapper has given a big chance to this 10yo considering he's 9lb lower than his peak when terrific performances at this meeting and the Cheltenham Festival suggested he was developing into a very smart stayer. The snag is that injury has restricted his appearances to only three in two years. But his comeback run last month was full of promise and a tilt at the National has always been on his agenda, according to trainer Ben Pauling and big-gun owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.](https://www.chad.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmYzODRiNTI0LTA1N2YtNDM2NS04MjhkLTUwMDAyYWI5NjFmZjozZmQxM2JkYi1mZjhhLTQ3MjItYWQwMy0zOWQ1NWJkOWI1ODQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
12. Kildisart (40/1)
The handicapper has given a big chance to this 10yo considering he's 9lb lower than his peak when terrific performances at this meeting and the Cheltenham Festival suggested he was developing into a very smart stayer. The snag is that injury has restricted his appearances to only three in two years. But his comeback run last month was full of promise and a tilt at the National has always been on his agenda, according to trainer Ben Pauling and big-gun owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede. Photo: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images