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Seabass: Ted Walsh’s 9 year old has done nothing but improve this season and I get the feeling there is more to come. I like the way he battled on to win when challenged by Zaarito up the Naas run in last time at and I got the feeling there was more left in the tank than the final distance of one length suggests. If he improves again he may well be the ‘good thing’ of the race. Ruby Walsh has now confirmed he will be riding On His Own which will leave his sister Katie a great chance to be the first Lady winner of the race. And what a great story that would be for the National that Ruby, gave up the ride for his sister to take the victory. It has been raining for three days at Aintree and as the ground is now soft, so now I like this horse even more. Yes I would have preferred Ruby to be riding but Katie Walsh is a more than capable deputy. Rating 9/10
Chicago Grey: I backed this horse when he won last year at the Festival, his amateur jockey Derek O’Connor gave the horse a great ride from the back and he steadily picked his way through the field to win going away. Paul Carberry may well pick up the ride and adopt similar tactics in the National. He carries just 10st 13lb so the weight should not be an issue, we know he stays and has only ever fallen once in his career. Yes, he will need a little bit of luck in running but that can be said for all the main contenders. If the ground stays good and does not get too soft, I can’t see Chicago Grey being out of the frame. Rating 8/10
Giles Cross: This horse is a great jumper and really flies at his fences, sometimes that is not always an ideal tac-tic at Aintree. However he stays as well as any and jockey Paddy Brennan is more than a safe pair of hands in the saddle. Time-form have him as one of the best handicapped horses in the race and although he will give a good account of himself I am not sure the ground will be soft enough to make the difference. Rating 6/10
 18. Always Right, 25/1 with Ladbrokes  33/1 with Stan James
Always Right: The fact that this horse has been pulled up in his last two races may not be a major concern, before that he has shown pretty good and consistent form over long distances in some pretty good races at Kelso, Ayr and Doncaster. He was going pretty well in the Scottish National before clouting the fence two out and is not without a chance. I will put his last two disappointing performances down to the ground being too soft for his liking and at expected odds of around 33/1 he could be another outsider at a big price that may hit the frame. Rating 6/10
Prolific’s 1-2-3-4
1. Seabass
2. Chicago Grey
3. Giles Cross
4. Always Right (EW)
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13. Seabass, 14/1 with 
11. Chicago 
36. Giles Cross, 12/1 with 
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