Mike Bushell, BBC Breakfast reporter, eighth in 2019 Strictly Come Dancing
I m giving an each-way shout for Sub Lieutenant to show his 100-1 odds are too big. He has never fallen, possesses great stamina and both the horse and Tabitha Worsley fared well separately over the National fences two years ago. When the family bought him off Michael O Leary he joked: One day he will win the National. There s an omen!
Conor McGinn MP, shadow minister of state for security
It s Anibale Fly for me. He has coped well on his two Grand National outings and looks favourably handicapped.
Alice Plunkett, ITV Racing
Grand National 2021: When it starts, how to watch and who could win? (PA) The Grand National Festival 2021 is under way with the nation s favourite horse race of the year set to take place on Saturday afternoon. Here’s a rundown of everything you need to know about the Grand National. When is the Grand National 2021? Will spectators be allowed in? In 2021, the Grand National Festival will take place between Thursday 8 April and Saturday 10 April, with the national race scheduled for the final day on 10 April at 5.15pm. Organisers had considered, and spoken to stakeholders, about moving the festival following the government’s roadmap out of a third national lockdown amid the Covid pandemic, but decided to keep it as planned.
Cloth Cap will be going in as favourite
Credit: PA
The 2021 Grand National gets underway this afternoon. Here, 1990 winner Marcus Armytage gives his verdict, while you can find the view of our tipster Marlborough and the thoughts of the great and the good from sport below.
Good luck!
It may not be quite the message the Government has wanted to get across to the public in the last 12 months but, as a degree of normality begins to return, it is time we should all start Takingrisks.
A year after the Randox Health Grand National was cancelled by Covid, the 173
rd running will finally take place albeit in front of its smallest ever crowd which might just about amount to 1,000 people if you add up the owners, trainers, officials, racecourse staff and police.
Chris s Dream (IRE) 9 11 7 Robcour Henry de Bromhead
Yala Enki (FR) 11 11 3 Hills of Ledbury Ltd Paul Nicholls
Ballyoptic (IRE) 11 11 1 Mills & Mason Partnership Nigel Twiston-Davies
Definitly Red (IRE) 12 11 1 Phil & Julie Martin Brian Ellison
Lake View Lad (IRE) 11 11 0 Mr Trevor Hemmings N. W. Alexander
Burrows Saint (FR) 8 10 13 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins
Magic of Light (IRE) 10 10 13 Ann & Alan Potts Limited Mrs J. Harrington
Acapella Bourgeois (FR) 11 10 12 Slaneyville Syndicate W. P. Mullins
Talkischeap (IRE) 9 10 12 Charles Dingwall Alan King
Tout Est Permis (FR) 8 10 12 Gigginstown House Stud Noel Meade
Anibale Fly (FR) 11 10 12 Mr John P. McManus A. J. Martin
Mister Malarky (GB) 8 10 12 Wendy & Malcolm Hezel Colin Tizzard
Grand National 2021: When it starts, how to watch and who could win? (PA) The Grand National Festival 2021 is under way with the nation s favourite horse race of the year set to take place on Saturday afternoon. Here’s a rundown of everything you need to know about the Grand National. When is the Grand National 2021? Will spectators be allowed in? In 2021, the Grand National Festival will take place between Thursday 8 April and Saturday 10 April, with the national race scheduled for the final day on 10 April at 5.15pm. Organisers had considered, and spoken to stakeholders, about moving the festival following the government’s roadmap out of a third national lockdown amid the Covid pandemic, but decided to keep it as planned.