A trio of top Grand National-winning jockeys have made their predictions ahead of this year's race.
Ruby Walsh, Sir AP McCoy and Mick Fitzgerald gave ITV Racing viewers their tips for the Aintree showpiece. Walsh, the most successful jockey in Cheltenham Festival history, won the Grand National twice during his career in the saddle.
He was aboard 2000 hero Papillon, trained by his father Ted Walsh and five years later, was successful on the Willie Mullins-trained Hedgehunter. McCoy, who rode a record 4,358 winners and was champion jockey for 20 consecutive years, took his only Grand National triumph on Don't Push It in 2010.
The horse hailed from Jonjo O'Neill's stables in Gloucestershire and belonged to JP McManus, last year's winning owner with Rachael Blackmore's history make Minella Times.
Bookies have the top weight as their favourite after sustained support, but Walsh expects McManus to be in the winners' enclosure with Any Second Now. Like Papillon 21 years ago, the chaser is trained by Walsh's father.
The former top jockey highlighted the chances of Delta Work, Longhouse Poet and Fiddlerontheroof as his Aintree place horses, but he believes Any Second Now has what it takes.
"My heart is ruling my head and I hope Any Second Now can do it for Dad," he said on ITV Racing.
McCoy's tip is Longhouse Poet, 14-1 with bookmakers Betfred for the big race. The Thyestes Chase scorer is trained by Martin Brassil, who was triumphant in 2006 with Numbersixvalverde.
McCoy said: "Longhouse Poet has plenty going for him and I really liked his Thyestes Chase win. It's a route that Martin went with Numbersixvalverde and he's definitely a player."
McCoy chose Delta Work, Any Second Now and Run Wild Fred to finish second, third and fourth. While Fitzgerald, who hit the heights on 1996 winner Rough Quest, likes Longhouse Poet, but expects Colin Tizzard to sign off his training career in style with Fiddlerontheroof.
The race will be run at Aintree, near Liverpool, with crowds in attendance for the first time since 2019. The 40 runners and riders line up with the aim of completing the four-and-a-quarter mile course, with 30 jumps, for a share of £1million in prize money.
It is the unique contest of National Hunt racing run in Britain. And Minella Times will try to emulate Tiger Roll, who took consecutive renewals in 2018 and 2019. After such a memorable day in 2021, jockey Rachael Blackmore has since added many more accolades to her record including the 2021 Gold Cup.
The first female rider to take the National trophy said: "He was fantastic last year and he is a very enjoyable horse to ride, so I’m very much looking forward to getting back on board."
