Grand National 2015: Experts' verdict on who will win at Aintree

Last year, only two of our pundits places eventual winner Pineau De Re in their top four. None picked him to win

Racing reporters, correspondents and experts give their verdicts on who will win the Grand National at Aintree.

Chris Cook, The Guardian

1. The Druids Nephew 2 Soll 3 Saint Are 4 Royale Knight

The Druids Nephew looks very well weighted after his storming Cheltenham Festival success and has been enormously improved by his talented young trainer, Neil Mulholland.

Chris Dixon, Racing UK

1. The Druids Nephew 2. Godsmejudge 3. First Lieutenant. 4 Rocky Creek

Well handicapped and an improving strong chaser, The Druids Newphew comes from a yard I rate highly.

Brian Flanagan, Irish Daily Star

1. The Druids Nephew 2. Balthazar King 3. Cause Of Causes 4. Owega Star

The Druids Nephew is 10lb well-in at the weights and was very impressive in his cosy Cheltenham Festival success last month.

In 2014 18 of the 40 horses completed the demanding Aintree course

John Hunt, BBC Radio 5 live commentator

1 Unioniste 2. Balthazar King 3. Godsmejudge 4. Alvarado

Unioniste has limitless potential. Put in a tremendous run behind subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Coneygree at Newbury. A class act.

Frank Keogh, BBC Sport racing reporter

1. Soll 2. Royale Knight 3. Balthazar King 4. Rocky Creek

I have a hunch the winner will come from the lowest-weighted horses as per the last two runnings. Soll sticks out for the shrewd David Pipe stable.

Cornelius Lysaght, BBC racing correspondent

1. Balthazar King 2. Soll 3. Shutthefrontdoor 4. Night In Milan

Balthazar King, last year's runner-up, jumps really well and has been trained for months with this race in mind; the stats give mixed messages about his chances, but what a story if jockey Richard Johnson, perennial championship runner-up to AP McCoy, stole the limelight on this of all occasions.

Lee Mottershead, Racing Post

1 Shutthefrontdoor 2 Unioniste 3 Night In Milan 4 The Druids Nephew

Fairytales do come true and this one very possibly will. Connections have an unusual degree of confidence in Shutthefrontdoor's claims and that confidence can prove justified, allowing AP McCoy to bid farewell in a manner befitting the greatest of the greats.

Gary O'Brien, At The Races & BBC Radio 5 live

1. Spring Heeled 2. Rocky Creek 3. Balthazar King 4. Royale Knight

Spring Heeled will have conditions in his favour, is a prominent racer and boasts top handicap form - all of which points to a big run from Jim Culloty's diminutive eight-year-old.

Thousands of spectators will flock to Aintree on Saturday

Darren Owen, BBC Radio 5 live commentary team

1. Al Co 2. Unioniste 3. Night In Milan 4. Shutthefrontdoor

Winner of last year's Scottish National, Al Co stays, appreciates good ground and has a nice racing weight.

Tom Peacock, Daily Telegraph

1. Saint Are 2. Rocky Creek 3. Royale Knight 4. Mon Parrain

I've been keen on Saint Are since the weights were announced. I liked his staying-on third over the course in the Becher Chase and he looks a better horse than he was when ninth for a different trainer two years ago. I fear Rocky Creek, but he's hardly an original selection.

Malcolm Tomlinson, BBC Radio 5 live commentary team

1 Godsmejudge 2. Rubi Light 3. Rocky Creek 4. Balthazar King

Godsmejudge is well handicapped on his best form and will get every yard of the trip.

Sam Turner, Daily Mail

1. Rocky Creek 2. Alvarado 3. Balthazar King 4. Night In Milan

A breathing operation meant Rocky Creek looked a different horse at Kempton when running away with the BetBright Chase and the resurgent gelding can hand trainer Paul Nicholls a second Grand National win.

Dave Yates (Newsboy) Daily Mirror

1. First Lieutenant 2. Rocky Creek 3. Soll 4. Shutthefrontdoor

First Lieutenant is a safe jumper (has completed each of his 23 chases), who is now well handicapped and promises a revival returned to spring ground. Trainer Mouse Morris is back in form after a torrid winter, and stable confidence is behind Nina Carberry becoming the first woman to ride a Grand National winner.