Trainer Henry De Bromhead on BBC Radio 5 Live: "It is brilliant. It is such an amazing day and great race and I'm looking forward to it."

On Minella Indo: "His prep has gone really well, I'm delighted with him. He worked really well the other day. He loved it around here last year and the drying ground should help as well. He is an old warrior and he loves the game. He seems in great form."

On Senior Chief: "I was disappointed with him at Newbury, we'd only been to Cheltenham a month earlier and the fear was we came back too soon. He seems really good now and we're hopeful for a good run. He should love the ground too."

Image source, Getty Images

In 2021, Rachael Blackmore became the first female jockey to win the Grand National when she rode Minella Times to victory. That followed a string of wins at the Cheltenham Festival over the years.

We know that loads of you will want to back her - and she's riding Minella Indo for Irish trainer Henry de Bromhead again.

Her victory in 2021 was for De Bromhead - and she rode Minella Indo to third in last year's race. The 12-year-old comes into the National fresh, having opted to skip the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Speaking about her ride on Friday, Blackmore told BBC Radio 5 Live: "He feels brilliant. He’s 12 now so he’s getting a little bit older but he still retains so much enthusiasm.

"I rode him last week and he definitely doesn’t feel 12 - he feels fantastic.

"He comes alive at this time of the year and Henry de Bromhead [the trainer] does a fantastic job at sparking him at the right time. He was great in the race last year."

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Aintree

Who will join the Grand National honours board this afternoon?

Well, a list of previous winners is proudly displayed in the Lord Daresbury Stand at Aintree.

The stand is named after the peer Peter Greenall, who was chairman of Aintree Racecourse for 25 years and whose son Oliver saddles a National runner this afternoon.

He trains Iroko alongside Josh Guerriero at their Cheshire stables.

Image source, Getty Images

(Year, horse, age, weight, trainer, jockey, odds)

• 2024 I Am Maximus 8 11-06 Willie Mullins Paul Townend 7-1 joint fav
• 2023 Corach Rambler 9 10-5 Lucinda Russell Derek Fox 8/1 fav
• 2022 Noble Yeats 7 10-10 Emmet Mullins Sam Waley-Cohen 50/1
• 2021 Minella Times 8 10-03 Henry De Bromhead Rachael Blackmore 11/1
• 2020 - No race (Covid-19)
• 2019 Tiger Roll 9 11-5 Gordon Elliott Davy Russell 4/1 fav
• 2018 Tiger Roll 8 10-13 Gordon Elliott Davy Russell 14/1
• 2017 One For Arthur 8 10-11 Lucinda Russell Derek Fox 14/1
• 2016 Rule The World 9 10-07 Mouse Morris David Mullins 33/1
• 2015 Many Clouds 8 11-09 Oliver Sherwood Leighton Aspell 25/1
• 2014 Pineau De Re 11 10-06 Dr Richard Newland Leighton Aspell 25/1

AP McCoy
Former Grand National winning jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live

I fancied I Am Maximus last year and I fancy him again. I actually thought he could go on to win a Gold Cup. He has only had two runs and it's whether he has competition hardness when going this distance. It's a brilliant race. There are so many Cheltenham Festival winners. It's a proper Grand National.

Image source, Getty Images

The Grand National is one of those events that captivates the nation and brings families together.

Rachael Blackmore - the 2021 winner on board Minella Times - has been speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live about what the race means.

"It’s a fantastic race to be a part of," said Blackmore. "It’s definitely one that touches different parts of the world.

"I was lucky enough to win it in 2021 and the congratulations that I received from places that I hardly knew existed.

"It is a fantastic race - it brings families together that wouldn’t ordinarily watch racing, but the Grand National is a part of their year."

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Aintree

This is the view from one of Aintree's most famous jumps - The Chair.

While it stands at 5ft 2in tall, the Grand National obstacles have become less fearsome down the decades wiith a serious of safety changes.

These have made the race less of a lottery and reduced the risks to runners and riders. Some traditionalists say the race has lost its spectacular essence, while others welcome the emphasis on welfare.

There were no fallers last year and 21 of the 32 horses horses completed the race - the highest number across the finish line since 1992 - with four horses unseating their riders and seven pulled up.

Barry Geraghty
2003 Grand National winning jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live

I won't say it feels like yesterday [that I won the National in 2003] but it is a magical place and it is great to be back here.

Cheltenham is the Olympics of our sport, but then you come to Aintree and it is different atmosphere. It is more of a party atmosphere.

It is high-level racing but the Grand National is the race of the year. It is the one you're dreaming of riding in and winning at home as a child. If there is one omission you wouldn't want on your CV then the Grand National is the one you wouldn't want to miss.

Image source, Getty Images

Will the Willie Mullins-trained I Am Maximus write himself into folklore just after 16:00 BST?

The nine-year-old, who is carrying the top weight 11st 12lb, is aiming to become just the third back-to-back winner of the Grand National in the post-war era.

Red Rum won successive Nationals in 1973 and 1974 - and added a third in 1977 - before Tiger Roll achieved the feat in 2018 and 2019.

I Am Maximus won by seven and a half lengths in 2024 and Paul Townend will again take the ride.

Winning jockey Darragh O'Keeffe tells ITV Racing: "He deserves this. Henry [trainer Henry de Bromhead] said ride him the way you usually do. We were unsure about the ground but he handled it well and he stays really well. I'm very privileged to pick up rides for Henry. I was pipped in the Long Walk and I'm delighted he has won today."

Image source, PA Media

45 minutes to go until the 177th running of the Grand National.

Still haven't picked your horse or horses? You best get a move on!

Whether you pick off name, form, colours of the silks, numbers or maybe even age - we've got you covered.

Our Grand National pinstickers' guide to the runners will give you all the information you need.

1 Hiddenvalley Lake (D J O'Keeffe) 12-1

2 Strong Leader (S Bowen) 5-1

3 Jetara (N de Boinville) 15-2

11 ran

A perfectly timed ride by Darragh O'Keeffe!

The Henry De Bromhead-trained horse took the lead just before the final hurdle and then kicked clear down the home straight. Strong Leader got up for second from Jetara.

Hiddenvalley Lake's owners also won the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham with Bob Olinger so they have a pretty strong hold on this division.

Jetara is in front as we go between the second last and final hurdle but Hiddenvalley Lake is an eye-catcher down the outside.

Jetara is tanking along for Nico De Boinville, he's edging towards the lead as they turn for home.

Bad news if you're on Home By The Lee - he's being ridden by JJ Slevin and is now at the back of the field.

The 11 runners have just gone past the finishing line to a loud cheer from the Aintree crowd.

In an attempt to settle him down Paul Townend has pushed Kitzbuhel back down the field. It seems to have worked but he's got a decent amount to make up now.

Saying that, the group are quite well packed.

Jetara, who came in for some strong support before the off, is making some headway down the outside under Nico De Boinville.

He's up to a close third behind Monmiral and Strong Leader.

Image source, Getty Images

Kitzbuhel is very keen in mid field for Paul Townend.

Monmiral is leading from last year's winner Strong Leader.

About seven horses took the first hurdle together.

Monmiral is leading now though.

Kitzbuhel has clipped heels with someone though as they condense.