You might thank the Big Fella

IT’S Grand National Day again and last year proved, with a 100-1 winner, that the National is the National whatever way you look at it. You can take form, ground, jockeys, trainers and whatever else you like but, at the end of the day, it’s the National and anything can win it.

I’ve been lucky that I’ve ridden good jumpers that like it around here — horses like Papillon in 2000 and Hedgehunter, who was a real Aintree horse, gave me a couple of great rides in the race. Last year I rode My Will and, though he wasn’t near as good a ride as the other ones, he managed to finish third.

In Big Fella Thanks, I think I have another good one today. He finished sixth in the race last year and arrives here in great order. He won over two and a half miles last time out and I think it’s a great sign when they can drop back in trip and win.