Pinstickers' guide to Aintree Grand National

A guide to the runners

ROYAL AUCLAIR (28-1): This nine-year-old was second behind Hedgehunter last year and is 9lb better off at the weights. He has won only one of his five starts this season, and he was well beaten in the Gold Cup. He now has something to prove.

Rating (out of 10) 6

HEDGEHUNTER (6-1): Waltzed home last year and would have been placed the year before, but for taking a tired fall at the last. Has been in fine form this season and was a gallant runner-up in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last time. Despite his welter burden of 11st 12lb, he looks sure to be in the shake-up.

9

CORNISH REBEL (22-1): Full-brother to triple Gold Cup winner Best Mate and there is no doubt he has plenty of ability. He was placed in both the Scottish and Welsh Nationals last year, so stamina is not an issue. Was still going well when making a horrific blunder at the third-last in the Gold Cup and is an interesting, if not quirky, contender. 7

THEREALBANDIT (40-1): Very promising novice chaser a couple of seasons ago but then looked just short of top-class. Had lost his way last year before landing a Grade Three contest at Wetherby in December and looks to be on a high enough mark, though others are readily preferred. 5

IT TAKES TIME (50-1): Very good hurdler, although he has never quite fulfilled his promise over fences. Did manage to win a Grade One in the early part of last year but has been disappointing this season. As a 12-year-old he is probably past his best but he does have form over the big fences and finished fourth last year. 4

LE ROI MIGUEL (100-1): Dual Grade One-winning chaser but is another who has rather lost his way. It is also a worry that his best form seems to be at around two miles and he has yet to prove conclusively that he is a genuine stayer. He was well beaten over hurdles at Cheltenham last time. 4

NATIVE UPMANSHIP (100-1): Very high-class performer and has won at the highest level over both hurdles and fences. Has run second to Hardy Eustace over timber this season and third to Beef Or Salmon over the larger obstacles in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup. The 13-year-old could still go well despite his advancing years but this is a tough call. 5

INNOX (14-1): Very tough Fench-trained gelding who has landed a couple of Grade Three races on his last two starts, including the Racing Post Chase where he received an excellent power-packed ride from Tony McCoy. He was seventh last year and with improvement expected he is sure to put up a bold show. 8

SILVER BIRCH (33-1): Looked a serious National contender when winning the Welsh equivalent in 2004. Winner of the Becher Chase over the National fences and, after picking up an injury, he made a pleasing reappearance at Warwick in January but has put in two woeful displays since and has something to prove before he can be backed with any confidence. 4

WHISPERED SECRET (200-1): Has won seven times with most of those victories coming at a lower level. He has found life tough in better company on his last two outings and while there may be more improvement to come, he looks an unlikely winner. 3

RINCE RI (100-1): Has been on the go for a long time and has plenty of miles on the clock. Good enough to compete at the highest level over the years and showed he still had ability when finishing fourth to Forget The Past in February. However, he has not won for over three years and he is seriously up against it. 3

PUNTAL (50-1): Fairly useful on his day but has been off the track for 16 months and has not won for two years. Another one who now looks to be past his best and this looks an impossible task. 2

LORD OF ILLUSION (25-1): Has decent form in staying contests and was fancied to run well in the Gold Cup but found the competition a little too hot. However, he jumps very well and he has proven stamina so it would be no surprise to see him run well off a decent mark, although he is often found out in top company. 6

EBONY LIGHT (40-1): A dour stayer and he is difficult to dismiss. He won a Grade Two at Haydock in January very easily but ran too bad to be true at the same track last time. Every drop of rain will aid his cause and if conditions are testing, he could go very well. 7

FIRST GOLD (80-1): Looked a potential world beater when winning the King George VI Chase in 2000 and continued to run well at the highest level. However, he has not won for three years and unfortunately he looks as though his best days are behind him. Would not be a surprise to see him get round but he is unlikely to be involved in the finish. 3

CLAN ROYAL (6-1): Second two years ago and was still tanking along in front when he was carried out at Becher's on the second circuit last year. He has run well three times over hurdles this season, including an easy win at Market Rasen and he looks sure to mount a very big challenge off a very, very good weight. 10

LE DUC (28-1): Has plenty of ability but his form is very in and out and he has not won for a long time. Ran his best race when finishing second in the Becher Chase over these fences back in November and if he can reproduce that kind of form again, then he must have a solid each-way chance if staying the extra distance. 6

SIR OJ (33-1): Noel Meade's charge has been in good form this winter and came with a storming late run to win the Robin Cook Memorial Gold Cup at Cheltenham in December. Has won again since but fell early on at the Festival in the Ryanair Chase. The nine-year-old is a talented individual and if he stays this marathon trip, he is there with every chance. 7

FOREST GUNNER (50-1): Gave Carrie Ford a great spin when finishing fifth last year but has shown little in three starts this term, being pulled up on his last two outings. However, he is something of an Aintree specialist and has won over these fences before so can not be ruled out under top female rider Nina Carberry. 5

JOES EDGE (18-1): Had top-drawer form last spring, including a victory in the Scottish National and a creditable second at the Punchestown Festival less than two weeks later. Has not shown as much since and was outclassed in the Gold Cup, but this contest looks more up his street and he could run a big race if the ground rides fast. 6

JUVEIGNEUR (28-1): Bounced back to form with a very good second place in the William Hill Chase at the Festival and should have no problem seeing out the trip, but whether he jumps round is the biggest question, as he fell at the first in the Becher Chase when he last tackled these fences. 6

AMBERLEIGH HOUSE (66-1): The veteran gave Ginger McCain an emotional fourth victory in the race in 2004 and ran well enough when 10th in last year's renewal. He has not shown an awful lot since but Aintree brings out the best in him and if the 14-year-old can turn up on the day at the top of his game, he could run very well despite his advancing years. 6

BALLYCASSIDY (100-1): Often punches above his weight in Grade One company and he usually puts up a good show. Fell at the second last year and he would need a career best to have any chance. 3

INCA TRAIL (50-1): Has won his last couple of starts at Sandown in good style but this is a big step up in grade. He clearly has ability, but he does not look the easiest of rides and he needs to be produced right on the line to land a victory. He is certainly quirky and does not look a good betting proposition, despite being purchased by specialist Ginger McCain. 3

GARVIVONNIAN (14-1): Beat Le Duc to take the Becher Chase at odds of 33 to 1 in November, but his last run showed that was no fluke as he was beaten into second by subsequent Gold Cup third Forget The Past. Not badly treated at the weights and a massive challenge looks likely, particularly if there is cut in the ground. 9

NUMBERSIXVALVERDE (10-1): Won the Irish Grand National last year off a featherweight and has to enter the reckoning on that effort. Ran a cracking race to take third over timber in his last race over a trip that was far too short and looks primed for a big run providing the handicapper hasn't been too harsh. 8

IZNOGOUD (150-1): Finished 12th in last year's National at 125 to 1, and if he improves his finishing position or goes off at shorter odds this year it will be a surprise. 3

JACK HIGH (14-1): Has taken a while to come to hand this season but put in a pleasing display at Down Royal in March and seems to come into his own in the spring. Beat Juveigneur into second in last year's Betfred Gold Cup and is well worth a second look as he is only 8lb higher and is versatile regarding ground. 8

HAUT DE GAMME (28-1): Well beaten in the Singer and Friedlander Chase at Uttoxeter last time, but that was over an inadequate trip. Appeared to relish the test of stamina in the Becher Chase on his previous foray over fences, he may be capable of staying on. 7

NIL DESPERANDUM (33-1): Second to Jack High at Down Royal. All his best successes have come over two and a half miles, so this looks an unlikely place for him to find the winning thread once more, although he did finish sixth last year. 4

BARON WINDRUSH (66-1): Out-and-out stayer who stayed on strongly to bounce back to form and take fourth in the Eider Chase at Newcastle two starts ago, but was desperately disappointing in the Midlands National. Has a chance if at his best, but he hasn't been very reliable recently and may find one or two too good. 6

HEROS COLLONGES (66-1): Shaped as though this trip was slightly too far when finishing eighth last year and confirmed the impression that he is unsuited by marathon trips when out of contention in the Welsh National in 2005. Will probably get round. 6

TYNEANDTHYNEAGAIN (100-1): Won the Eider Chase in 2004, but missed the entirety of 2005 through injury. Likely to have improved for each of his two runs this season, but he has yet to show conclusively that he retains all of his old ability and will need to be at his very best to win this. 6

RISK ACCESSOR (66-1): Ran creditably enough in the Kim Muir at the Festival and has been in reasonably good form all season, but tends to miss out the odd fence, which is very dangerous in this contest, as proved by his second-fence exit last year. Has claims, but not very strong ones. 5

DIRECT ACCESS (25-1): Fell at the first in the Becher Chase on this course in November, but showed no signs of any problems when winning as he pleased at Newcastle. Has a decent record fresh, so the lay-off is not a concern, but his tendency to make mistakes tempers enthusiasm. 6

COLNEL RAYBURN (40-1): Blundered away any chance he had before being pulled up in this race last year, and will have to show these fences a lot more respect if he is going to figure prominently. Has not been disgraced on his three outings this season, however, so could sneak into a place if jumping adequately. 7

IRIS ROYAL (150-1): Has been tried over staying distances since returning from 20 months away from the track, but hasn't convinced that he stays three miles, never mind this trip. Nicky Henderson's assertion that two-and-a-half-milers win the National will have to be spot on for this one to have any chance of victory. 4

ROSS COMM (14-1): Indefatigable stayer who was in the process of running a massive race in the Hennessy when departing just before the turn. Has had a spin over hurdles and over fences to sharpen him up recently and may well go close to altering the poor record of grey horses if he puts in a clear round. 8

SHOTGUN WILLY (150-1): Has not been seen for over a year, when pulled up in the Midlands National, and this injury-prone chaser hasn't won a race since March 2003. Pulled up on his only outing in this contest, it is likely his best days are behind him. 3

JUST IN DEBT (66-1): Loves tackling these fences, having been beaten by a length in each of the last two Becher Chases, and was travelling well for a long way in last year's National, before appearing not to get home. He should jump round, but may not have the staying power to win. 6

FORECAST: 1. Clan Royal; 2. Hedgehunter; 3. Garvivonnian; 4. Ross Comm