Six days of national mourning for former US President Gerald Ford, starting this afternoon with a private service for his family, will include a day of silence on Wall Street, with the major stock markets closed.

Richard Ford has issued an upbeat bulletin ahead of Forest Gunner’s run in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree tomorrow.

NATIONAL favourite Hedgehunter will travel to Aintree today, with his trainer Willie Mullins satisfied about the ground conditions at Liverpool.