As we approach the Aintree Grand National there is speculation about who will be the favourite, who will make the grade and who will eventually win the oldest horse race in the world. The Grand National will again attract the largest worldwide audience for a horse race anywhere in the world, and we will see many people from the UK having a flutter for their one and only time of the year. So what is it about the National which gets everyone excited?

The Grand National has been going for nearly 200 years and while other historic sporting events have come and gone, the National has grown in strength over recent times, mainly because of the unique atmosphere and unique track which the horses will be asked to contend with. While the likes of Beachers Brook and The Chair jumps have been reduced in size over the last decade do not fall into the trap of thinking they are easy – these are awesome obstacles which take great timing and skill to master!

There are few sports in the world which could handle the recent controversy regarding animal rights activists, cancellation of the race, and false starts over the last few years. However, this is one horse race which is actually bigger than the sport and when you consider that jockeys like the legendary Tony McCoy has still to break their duck and win the race it puts it all in perspective. Will this year be the time for McCoy to come true? Will we see an outsider hit the front and take on the favourites? Will we see another horse overtaken at the elbow as they head towards the finishing line?

Whatever happens on Saturday you can guarantee that it will be a day to remember although we only hope that all of the horses and jockeys come home safely from what is still the toughest steeple chase race in the world.