What a place this is and what a race awaits us. The excitement I have on the morning of the Grand National is the same as when I saw it for the first time, with my grandfather, all those years ago.
The National Cup final and the FA were the foundations of my sporting childhood, the days I dreamed of when I saw history unfold before my eyes. On Wednesday, when all was quiet at Aintree, I walked the course and reflected on the privilege I have in presenting this great race.
I made reference in last week’s column to the nerves I feel before going on air, but that’s because I know what the National means to many of you. Everyone will have stories about the years they supported the winner.
This is the day, of course, when the nation stirs. People often ask me if I’m on board, since I’m in front of a camera. You better believe so! Trying to crack the national code is something I’ve been trying to do since the moment the pesos are revealed in February.
So here’s how I see it: There are two horses in this 34-race contest that could destroy it. Nassalam, so spectacular in winning the Welsh Grand National at Christmas, would be a danger to everyone if he breaks loose at the head of the field.
Nassalam took a spectacular victory in the Welsh Grand National in December.
He could easily build an insurmountable lead, as he did at Chepstow, and Gary Moore, his coach, is a master. Those comments also apply to Willie Mullins, trainer of I Am Maximus, another capable of running everything else at full speed.
I Am Maximus won the Irish Grand National 12 months ago and has the profile of many previous winners. He has emerged victorious at Grade One level, has plenty of class and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he one day takes part in a Cheltenham Gold Cup.
But I stand firm. The Chamberlin pound each way went to Panda Boy in February and I hope he’s there when it matters in the end. Martin Brassil, his trainer, won the National with Numbersixvalverde in 2006 and always has his horses happy and mature when necessary.
He will remain in the best position to beat Meetingofthewaters, another Mullins contender; Galia Des Liteaux, a mare from Dan Skelton’s yard, can fill the minor positions, along with Mahler Mission, who has been kept fresh for this task.
It’s going to be a grueling race (it was particularly soft in the corner of the field next to the Leeds-Liverpool canal), but it’s a race we should all look forward to and, although I’d love to have the winning betting slip, I pride myself on finding the Right line for the right time.
Going back to ITV commentator Richard Hoiles saying “the lion-hearted tiger”, after Tiger Roll’s historic second hit in 2019, or “the Scottish flags are flying high again”, as I did last year, is the only thing that matters .
So what story awaits us? Any presenter craves a decent ‘hook’, and today Lucinda Russell, Peter Scudamore and Scotland are leading that charge – Corach Rambler could join the pantheon of Aintree greats by repeating their success of 12 months ago. What a joy he and his connections to the sport are. His owners, the Ramblers, include Cameron Sword, whose father bought a share during lockdown and has now started to involve young people in the sport through micro share ownership. He owns my dreams to help promote the sport to the next generation.
I Am Maximus by Willie Mullins (above) has the profile of so many previous national winners
Or could it be Tom Ellis, with his first runner as a professional trainer? Latenightpass has a very good name: his grandfather is Midnight Legend, his father is Passing Glass, and his mother is Latenightdip. Other relatives include Latenightfumble. This would be a family fairy tale, as the 11-year-old is owned by Tom’s mother, raised and ridden by his wife, Gina Andrews.
Or could Kitty’s Light win the Welsh National Championship for the first time since 1905? Trainer Christian Williams’ six-year-old daughter Betsy has been battling leukemia since March of last year, a battle she is winning and now it is Kitty’s turn to provide light once again in such a dark time.
Yesterday, Betsy and her sister Tilly skipped school to judge the Ladies’ Day style awards. They stayed to watch the National, which could offer an emotional story comparable to that of Aldaniti and Bob Champion in 1981. Like I said: what a race and what a place.
Ed Chamberlin is a Sky Bet ambassador