Grand National Preview

The world's most famous horse race is run on Saturday and all eyes will be on Aintree at 4:15pm. This year's race centres largely around one horse, Cloudy Lane, who is by far and away the most likely winner. This horse has gone from strength to strength since the handicap weights were issued and from a purely handicapping point of view is a definite "good thing". There is little that appeals about his odds of 5/1 though and we suggest looking elsewhere for value bets.

Turko ran a really cracking race at Cheltenham; he lost his place when making a mistake at the downhill fence but then stayed on up the hill. Turko's preferred distance is 2 1/2 mile which could make him the ideal selection for the National. Most experts say the ideal National horse is a horse that can cruise the first circuit then begin racing at the business end - this selection fits the profile.

Selection: Turko 1pt ew @ 33/1 with Coral , Sportingbet or Totesport

French bred horses have traditionally struggled in the National but we think we've found the horse to buck this trend. Mon Mome finished 2nd in the 2006 Welsh Grand National and avoided this race in 2007 due to his age, two years on and stronger, Mon Mome should run a big race.

Selection: Mon Mome 1pt ew @ 33/1 with Sportingbet or Ladbrokes

Full list of current runners and approximate odds

Cloudy Lane 9/2
Slim Pickings 10/1
Comply Or Die 10/1
Simon 12/1
Bewleys Berry 14/1
Chelsea Harbour 14/1
Butlers Cabin 16/1
Mr Pointment 16/1
Mckelvey 20/1
Point Barrow 20/1
Snowy Morning 20/1
King Johns Castle 20/1
Dun Doire 20/1
Hedgehunter 25/1
Mon Mome 25/1
Turko 25/1
Philson Run 25/1
D'argent 25/1
L'ami 28/1
Joes Edge 33/1
Vodka Bleu 40/1
Knowhere 40/1
Ossmoses 40/1
Kelami 40/1
Newbay Prop 50/1
Wonderkid 50/1
Naunton Brook 50/1
Irish Raptor 50/1
Noir Et Vert 50/1
Opera Mundi 50/1
You're Special 50/1
Idle Talk 50/1
Madison Du Berlais 50/1
Black Apalachi 50/1
Milan Deux Mille 66/1
Longshanks 66/1
Not Left Yet 66/1
Hi Cloy ( Doubtful ) 66/1
Pak Jack 66/1
Preacher Boy 66/1
Backbeat 66/1
Bob Hall 66/1
Dunbrody Millar 66/1
Fundamentalist 66/1
Leading Man 66/1
Iron Man 66/1
Nadover 66/1
No Full ( Doubtful ) 66/1
Ardaghey 66/1
Baily Breeze 66/1
Bannister Lane 66/1
Sweet Diversion 66/1
Beantown 66/1
Take The Stand 66/1
Theatre Knight 66/1
Burntoakboy 66/1
Whispered Secret 66/1
Drombeag 66/1
Erics Charm 66/1
Flintoff 66/1
Glenfinn Captain 66/1
Flying Enterprise 66/1
Innox 66/1
In The High Grass 66/1
Joaaci 66/1
Lankawi 66/1
Le Duc 66/1
Livingstonebramble 66/1
Irish Wolf 66/1
Merdeka 66/1
Tumbling Dice 100/1
Cornish Sett 100/1
Model Son 100/1
Nitrat 100/1
Risk Accessor 100/1
Another Rum 100/1
Royal Rosa 100/1
Ballyfoy 100/1
The Outlier 100/1
Blue Splash 100/1
Tommy Spar 100/1
Toulouse-lautrec 100/1
Cornish Rebel 100/1
Loulou Nivernais 100/1
Maletton 100/1
Mcevoy 100/1
Bosham Mill 150/1
Native Jack 150/1
Mr Ed 200/1
Secretofshambhala 200/1
Silver Jack 200/1
Victory Gunner 200/1
Bengo 200/1
Fustrien Du Paon 200/1
Henrys Pride 200/1
Azulejo 500/1
Contraband 500/1