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
. Sam Waley-Cohen
Amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen gives the trophy a kiss after winning last year's Grand National on 50/1 novice Noble Yeats in the last ride of his career. Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
. Rachael Blackmore bidding to make more history
Jockey Rachael Blackmore and trainer Henry De Bromhead teamed up memorably two years ago to make Grand National history with Minella Times. This time they rely on AIN'T THAT A SHAME (pictured right, 14/1), a 9yo who lacks experience but is a consistent, progressive chaser blessed with a touch of class. He has been aimed at the race for some time, and victory would be a fitting end to the season for De Bromhead, whose 13-year-old son Jack died in a tragic riding fall last September. Photo: Submitted
. Father Ted hopes to make it third time lucky
There are few more admirable horses in training than 11yo ANY SECOND NOW (16/1), owned by JP McManus and trained by Ted Walsh, father of brilliant former jockey Ruby. He has been effective at all trips from 2m to 4m+ but has proved a National natural in the last two years, finishing a desperately unlucky third in 2021 and then an excellent second 12 months ago (pictured jumping the last in front). To make it third time lucky, he must defy top weight but canny Ted has won the race before -- with Papillon back in 2000. Photo: Paul Ellis/Getty Images
. Is this the Carefully Selected chosen one for Mullins?
Willie Mullins has been champion jumps trainer in Ireland for the last 16 seasons and has saddled more Cheltenham Festival winners (94) than anyone else. But it is a curious anomaly that he is responsible for only one Aintree National hero -- Hedgehunter back in 2005. One of his hopes this year is CAREFULLY SELECTED (50/1), who might be 11 but is lightly-raced after an injury-plagued career. Only now is he beginning to fulfil the exciting potential that was first identified at the Cheltenham Festival of 2018. Mullins has entrusted the ride with Michael O'Sullivan, one of the brightest jockeys on the circuit. Photo: Submitted
13. Owner seeking National tonic after helicopter crash
Multi-millionaire businessman Dai Walters, who founded Ffos Las racecourse, has only just returned home from intensive care after a horrific helicopter crash last November. So what a tonic it would be for the 77-year-old to celebrate Grand National glory with OUR POWER (pictured right, 22/1). Like the mighty Red Rum, he's graduated from the Flat and has plenty of miles on the clock over obstacles. But he's improved for long-distance races and for his fourth trainer, Gold Cup-winning jockey Sam Thomas, who is aiming to earn Wales their first National winner since 1905.. Photo: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
14. Play it again, Sam, on National Day
Anthony Honeyball's SAM BROWN (80/1) is already a winner on Grand National Day. OK, it was only the 3m handicap chase, 12 months ago, but the runaway triumph underlined his stamina, and he followed up with a career best when upped in grade behind Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Bravemansgame on his seasonal reappearance at Wetherby. His latest three runs have offered less encouragement and he much prefers the mud to be flying, but he has been specially prepared for the National and his CV, which includes a Grade Two success, suggests his odds are too big. Photo: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
15. Strong galloper who could be suited to Aintree
It's fair to say that THE BIG BREAKAWAY (33/1) has not exactly built on the promise he showed as a novice when fourth and third at Grade One level at successive Cheltenham Festivals. In fact, he's not won a race in 11 starts. But as a big, strong galloping sort, he's always looked likely to be best suited by marathon trips, as he proved when runner-up in the Welsh National in December. If he gets into an early rhythm on Saturday, Joe Tizzard's 8yo could be tailor-made for the Aintree showpiece. Photo: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
16. Is The Big Dog the cat's whiskers?
In-form Irish trainer Peter Fahey has always considered his 10yo stable star, THE BIG DOG (201), to be a Grand National horse in the making and he went some way towards proving that when a gallant third under a big weight in the Welsh version at Chepstow over Christmas. A relentless galloper, he's now on a career-high handicap mark and he does definitely prefer Soft ground. But although he fell last time out, he was in the process of running a lifetime-best behind subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs. Photo: Racing Post