Gwennie May Boy kicks for home...

Here comes Gwennie May Boy!

Classic Concorde has led for a while and has a two-length lead with three to clear. The pace is picking up!

Bold Endeavour making moves. Four to go...

The pace is slowing up - Classic Concorde and Johnson's Blue remain at the front. This is going to be a sprint finish en masse. Six hurdles to go.

Favourite West Balboa remains safely in the pack as they reach the end of the first circuit, it's anyone's race.

The field is quite spread out early on as Classic Concorde hits the front, still nine to clear.

Thirteen hurdles to clear in this one, with the horses up to 30mph in no time at all. Johnson's Blue leads them into the back straight.

The first race of the day is off!

Image source, Getty Images

William Hill Handicap Hurdle (13:20 BST)

Turners Mersey Novices' Hurdle (13:55 BST)

William Hill Handicap Chase (14:30 BST)

JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle (15:05 BST)

Randox Grand National Handicap Chase (16:00 BST)

My Pension Expert Maghull Novices' Chase (17:00 BST)

Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Standard Open (17:35 BST)

Dan Skelton, trainer of West Balboa is in confident mood. "I don't have any negatives, the ground has dried out for her," he tells ITV.

Gwennie May Boy is coming in at the bokies as well.

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Aintree

After persistent rain, the going at the start of this three-day meeting on Thursday was described as heavy, soft in places.

But the track dries out quickly and the going on the National course is now described as soft, good to soft in places.

Put simply, the ground should be less testing and not so much of a slog.

For racegoers, there has been the chance to sit outside and enjoy a tipple.

Image source, Getty Images

It will be West Balboa heading off as favourite in the opener, a 5/2 shot or thereabouts.

Image source, BBC Sport

You can read all the key details of all the horses running in the National in our Pinstickers' guide. There's still plenty of time to get your bets on...

Image source, Getty Images

On to the opening race of a busy day and West Balboa, trained by Dan Skelton and ridden by his brother Harry, will be aiming for back-to-back wins on a track that he likes.

Twelve months ago, he claimed a win by five lengths and started this season with another win at Aintree.

Although his season has featured a couple of disappointing performances, his last run at Kempton last month was more promising.

For those of a certain age, Cuthbert Dibble will be a popular choice while Black Bamboo and Johnnywho will bid to feature.

It's National Anthem time, moved from its usual position in the day of just before the National itself.

It's absolutely packed out there. And thankfully, dry for now at least by the looks of it.

We're 15 minutes out from the first race of the day as the huge, sweeping stands at Aintree continue to swell with thousands of punters.

On the TV, five pundits have just picked five different winners for the Grand National which sums up backing this great race...

Galia Des Liteaux trainer Dan Skelton, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "There's not been a mare win the race since 1951. We don't see the jumps being an issue and the softer conditions out there being in her favour."

On brother Harry being a jockey: "It makes it easier, we are a team. It's a big family thing. The trust I have in him and him in me, we can say anything we want to each other. We've got no boundaries and it works well for us. We discuss things the whole time and our ambition is to run the right horse in the right race."

On training Sir Alex Ferguson's horses: "He [Sir Alex Ferguson] doesn't get involved with the training or the placement. He's just very enthusiastic. No man can pick you up after a defeat like him."

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Aintree

I Am Maximus, trained by Willie Mullins for owner JP McManus, has replaced last year's winner Corach Rambler as favourite for the Grand National.

Approximate odds: 6-1 I Am Maximus, 8-1 Corach Rambler, 9-1 Limerick Lace 12-1 Mr Incredible, Meetingofthewaters, Panda Boy, 14-1 Vanillier, Kitty's Light, Mahler Mission, 16-1 Noble Yeats, 20-1 Bar.