The field come together. The starter is preparing his orders.

Each runner goes to take a look at the first fence. Ears pricked and spring in the step.

The field are on their way to the startline. The National Anthem is sung with flags at half mast in remembrance of the Duke of Edinburgh, who died on Friday.

Image source, Getty Images

A very solid all-rounder with the sort of confident, attacking jumping style that suits the National fences.

Jockey is the son of Jonjo O'Neill, who trains favourite Cloth Cap.

Cloth Cap – 6-1

Any Second Now – 10-1

Burrows Saint – 11-1

Minella Times – 12-1

Mister Malarky – 14-1

Takingrisks – 16-1

Magic Of Light – 16-1

Farclas – 18-1

Kimberlite Candy – 20-1

Approximate odds, offers will vary between bookmakers., external

Image source, Getty

There has been an Irish-trained winner in three of the last four runnings of the Grand National. Burrows Saint, who won the Irish National back in 2019, looks likliest to keep up that tradition.

On board is Patrick Mullins, the most successful amateur jockey in history. And Mullins has had a useful sighter having won over the National fences in the Topham Chase yesterday.

The horses are in the paddock. There were some very ominious clouds overhead at Aintree over the past hour. But the rain has stayed away so far.

The Grand National gets away at 17:15 BST.

Image source, Getty

Like absent champion Tiger Roll, Farclas has previously won a Triumph Hurdle. No seven-year-old has won for 71 years and Farclas' stamina is unproven. Stayed on well to finish second behind The Shunter over a much shorter trip at Cheltenham last month, though.

Jockey Jack Kennedy has revived career after breaking leg three times

Andrew Thornton
Former Gold Cup-winning jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live

1. Takingrisks 2. Magic Of Light 3. Discorama 4. Cloth Cap

Very well named for a race like this, Takingrisks is a Scottish National winner who also won the Rehearsal Chase. He's a through stayer and jockey Sean Quinlan is having his best ever season.

Image source, Getty Images

Magic of Light chased Tiger Roll - absent this year - home in the 2019 Grand National. She has won three times since but is carrying 5lbs more this time around

Jockey Robbie 'Puppy' Power won the National in 2007 on Silver Birch.

Gina Bryce
BBC Radio 5 Live presenter at Aintree

1. Any Second Now 2. Potters Corner 3. Burrows Saint 4. Talkischeap

Any Second Now has been laid out for this race by the very shrewd Ted Walsh. Potters Corner is a Welsh National winner, Burrows Saint was well fancied before last year's race was cancelled and Talkischeap can run well at a decent price.

Image source, Getty Images

Any Second Now is trainer Ted Walsh's first shot at the race since 2014.

Had a fall at the Irish National, but was a winner of the Kim Muir Chase at Cheltenham in 2019 and more recently in Navan in February.

Plenty of National nouse in the stable with Katie Walsh, a third-place finisher on Seabass in 2012, alongside her father Ted as an assistant.

Image source, Getty

The algorithms can do everything can't they?

Well, the Virtual Grand National - a computer simulation of the big race - has suggested that Kimberlite Candy is over-priced.

He came second behind real-life favourite Cloth Cap in the virtual race. He has also come second twice over the National fences in the Becher Chase.

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Aintree

On the eve of the big race, a Virtual Grand National is held with computer animations replacing the real thing.

In the absence of an actual Grand National, Potters Corner triumphed a year ago in the virtual version.

But there was a different result last night, with Cloth Cap coming out on top. Is it a sign?

Image source, Virtual Grand National

1 Happygolucky (David Bass) 11-4 Fav

2 Johnbb (J J Burke) 9-1

3 Spiritofthegames (Harry Skelton) 7-1

13 ran

Image source, Getty

The jockey is almost as much a draw as the horse here with Rachael Blackmore - fresh from riding six winners at Cheltenham - on board.

But Minella Times brings plenty to the partnership. Excellent jumping technique and two second-place finishes in big-field three-mile-plus handicaps in his last two outings.

Read about every runner in the 40-strong field in BBC Sport's pinstickers guide.

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Aintree

Cloth Cap looks set to be sent off favourite although the market can change in the hour before the big race.

Two horses coming in for some support are Potters Corner and Acapella Bourgeois - both now 20-1 from 25s.

Latest odds:6-1 Cloth Cap, 9-1 Burrows Saint, 11-1 Minella Times, Any Second Now; 12-1 Mister Malarky, Takingrisks; 16-1 Bar

The final race before the Grand National is about to get underway.

Happygolucky is the strong favourite ahead of Top Notch, Spiritofthegames and Snow Leopardness.

John Hunt
BBC Radio 5 Live commentator

Whisper it quietly - Tom Scudamore has a terrible record in the National, but Cloth Cap is by some way his best chance.

His father Peter never rode the winner, despite being champion jockey eight times, but has been involved with helping to train Grand National winners, while his grandfather Michael did win it in 1959 on Oxo.

A victory for Cloth Cap would be a popular one because Tom Scu is so well liked.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Cloth Cap is one of the shortest-priced favourites in Grand National history.

But with good reason. His form is red hot. He won the Ladbrokes Trophy in November in commanding fashion and was victorious again at Kelso last month.