So to make your task a little easier, we’ve created this guide and narrowed down the huge field of 40 runners to the 16 most likely to taste glory on Saturday.
The £1 million Randox-sponsored marathon over four miles and two furlongs takes place at 5.15 pm. Televised live by ITV for a global audience of up to 600 million viewers, the action will unfold over 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.
Finding the winner is never easy. In the last 15 years, the National has yielded a 100/1 stunner (Mon Mome), a 66/1 shot (Aurora’s Encore), a 50/1 poke (Noble Yeats), three 33/1 outsiders (Silver Birch, Neptune Collonges and Rule The World) and two 25/1 shots (Pineau De Re and Many Clouds). And last year’s winner, Noble Yeats, defied all logic as he became the first 7yo since 1940 and only the second novice since 1958 to land the spoils.
Noble Yeats is back for more this year, as is Any Second Now, who has been placed in the last two renewals, and Rachael Blackmore who, in 2021 on Minella Times, became the first female jockey to win the race.
Amazingly, that year, ten of the first 11 places were filled by horses trained in Ireland. It was a similar story 12 months ago with seven of the first ten and, once again, Irish handlers such as Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott are well represented. In fact, 27 of the 40-strong field is made up of horses from across the Irish Sea.
Last year, our guide featured five of the first six home, so let’s hope for more of the same! Please note: the 16 horses are listed in alphabetical order. The numbers do NOT relate to the horses’ order on the racecard. And the prices quoted were correct at the time of going to press. Good luck!
MY VERDICT - 1 Le Milos, 2 Gaillard Du Mesnil, 3 Galvin, 4 Our Power, 5 Ain’t That A Shame, 6 Delta Work
9. Skelton's skills ready to shine with target horse
Including his five runs in France as a youngster, LE MILOS (16/1) has amassed 23 starts in his career, but he's been in the form of his life since switching to the top yard of Dan Skelton six months ago. The highlight was a gritty victory in the Coral Gold Cup (formerly the Hennessy) at Newbury in November, since when his sole target has been the National. He's still well handicapped, looks sure to stay the marathon trip and although touched off on his prep run at Kelso five weeks ago, Skelton, who is a master at preparing his charges for big races, was delighted with the performance. Photo: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
10. Can Poet find more stamina on Aintree return?
It's very rare for horses beaten in a National to win the race when returning in subsequent years. But nothing travelled through the 2022 contest better than LONGHOUSE POET (14/1). As late as the second last, he looked the likeliest winner until suddenly cutting out and ending up in sixth, beaten fully 34 lengths. It looked a classic case of stamina giving way, but the 9yo is worth another chance, especially as he's on the same handicap mark and has been tuned up nicely by shrewd Irish trainer Martin Brassil, who sent out Numbersixvalverde to Aintree success in 2006. Photo: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
11. Can McCain deliver again on Red Rum anniversary?
On the 50th anniversary of Red Rum's first National win, it would be poignant if the McCain yard could celebrate once more. Ginger McCain trained 'Rummy' to three wins and two second places in the great race in the 1970s and later saddled Amberleigh House, the 2004 winner, while son Donald maintained the family tradition with Ballabriggs 11 years ago. Now Donald tries again with MINELLA TRUMP (66/1), an admirably consistent 9yo, although it is a blow that connections have been unable to persuade champion jockey Brian Hughes to get on board. Photo: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
12. Can last year's winner do it again?
NOBLE YEATS (nearside) jumps The Chair on his way to a shock 50/1 victory for rookie trainer Emmet Mullins in last year's National that confounded long-established trends. He'll be more like 9/1 this time round because subsequent performances at a higher level have proved that his silky-smooth triumph was no fluke. He even finished fourth, albeit a distant one, in last month's Gold Cup at Cheltenham, but had a hard race and his handicap mark is now fully 19lb higher than 12 months ago when his jockey was Aintree specialist Sam Waley-Cohen, who has since retired. Photo: Paul Ellis/Getty Images