After the Aintree Grand National five day declaration, trainer Paul Nicholls has four remaining entries in this year's race - two of the favourites Niche Market and What a Friend and relative outsiders The Tother One and Ornais.
Nicholls has had 44 past Grand National runners, and yet has never managed to secure a National win, though he has already had four Cheltenham Gold Cup winners.
With only a few days to go before the big race on Saturday, Niche Market currently stands at 14/1 with a weight of 10st 13lbs. It's his second attempt at the National having been pulled up at the 29th fence in last year's race by Harry Skelton, who will ride him again this year.
What a Friend is part-owned by Man United boss, Sir Alex Ferguson, and Ged Mason. But his jockey, Daryl Jacob, will face a stiff task on the horse with a weight of 11st 6lbs. No horse has carried more than 11.05 to victory in the National since Red Rum in 1974.
The eight-year-old came fourth in this year's Cheltenham Gold Cup and after that performance Handicapper Phil Smith said he'd have given him about 15lb more if the weights could have been reallocated for the National and those looking at the Grand National betting should remember this.
Since his debut two and a half years ago, The Tother One has only had one steeplechase win at Exeter in 2008, but showed promise in the Henessey Gold Cup in November finishing fourth. He also came fourth in the Argento Chase at the Cheltenham Trials this year. He'll carry 11 stones for the National, and seems to have legitimate claims despite his generous odds of around 50/1.
Ornais is a late confirmation as a National entry after the withdrawal of Ballytrim. The nine year old will be ridden by Nick Scholfield, with a weight of 10st 4lbs and a current price of around 100/1; so if Paul Nicholls is to get his first winner in the National this year – it will most probably be one of the other three!
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