Grand National horse trains on specially-made fence

Horantzau D'Airy has been preparing with Michael Keady for the past month

A racehorse is ready for his debut at the Grand National after practising his jumps on a specially-constructed fence at the home of flat racing.

Horantzau D'Airy, a 100-1 shot, is the first Aintree contender from his yard in Newmarket, Suffolk.

The eight-year-old's very own spruce fence at the Jockey Club's training ground replicates what the runners and riders will encounter at the famous steeplechase on Saturday.

"He jumped it like a bunny - there's no reason why he shouldn't get round the Grand National course," said trainer Micheal Keady.

"It's slightly novel for a Grand National contender to even be here.

"We are traditionally a flat-focussed yard, and here we are preparing a horse for the Grand National - it's very exciting."

The fence has given Horantzau D'Airy a sense of what to expect at Aintree

The thoroughbred was already used to chase fences, having been runner-up at the Kerry and Munster Nationals under his former trainer Willie Mullins.

But the Grand National's fences are taller and wider, with jockey Ciaran Gethings putting the horse through his paces on the special jump last week.

"He's been an absolute dream to train for the race, he's been very straightforward, a very sound horse and he seems to really enjoy his work," added Mr Keady.

The racehorse's inaugural Grand National is also the debut for Mr Keady.

Having a horse in the Grand National had lifted everyone's spirits, Mr Keady said

"I started my training career a couple of years ago in Newmarket. I grew up 12 miles away in Cambridge, so it's a dream to be training horses here, let alone a Grand National horse," continued Mr Keady.

Realistically, he added, simply completing the tough course of just over four miles (6.5km) and 30 fences would be a "massive achievement" - but there was always that chance.

"If he's in contention half way, you never know, it's the Grand National after all and anything can happen," he said.