Jack and Milly Rose

First: £15 Rebecca C: Neptune Collonges
Second: £10 Theo: Sunnyhillboy
Third: £5 Toby Tom: Seabass
Fourth: £3 Casey: Cappa Bleu
Fifth: £1 Toby (Snr): In Compliance

Punters and Runners

Ella Clarke: Synchronised (Cheltenham Gold Cup winner could make a remarkable double with the Grand National)

Milly: Ballabriggs (Winner last year – could he finally become the horse to win back to back Nationals?)

Stan: On His Own (Impressive winner of Thyestes Chase in Ireland, could be anything)

Rose: Shakalakaboomboom (Progressive young handicapper from the stable of Nicky Henderson)

Ruby: West End Rocker (Hugely impressive when taking the Becher Chase)

Casey: Cappa Bleu (Won decent handicap at Haydock and then third in Welsh National. Former Foxhunters winner at Cheltenham.)

Jack: Chicago Grey (Another from the ever more powerful yard of former Grand National winner Gordon Elliott – this one has bags of stamina)

Lily: Giles Cross ( Twice runner-up in the Welsh National.Loves soft ground)

Kerry-Anne: Junior (Won at Royal Ascot in 2010 and at the Cheltenham Festival last year; the Grand National would be some treble!)

Gracie: Organisedconfusion ( Won last season’s Irish National. Trained by Arthur Moore and ridden by his niece, Nina Carberry.

Theo: Sunnyhillboy ( Won the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival and finally seems to be fulfilling his potential

Florence: Killyglen (Former Grade Two chase winner who was running well in last year’s Grand National when falling at the fourth last

Oliver: Becauseicouldntsee (Ran a cracker in the recent Kim Muir at Cheltenham

Toby Tom: Seabass (Improving all the time, could he be another Papillon for this stable?

Rachel: Treacle (Suffered badly when stable was out of form but now back to his best

Jay: According To Pete (At the top of his form after taking two recent big handicaps

Dec: Always Right (Ran a screamer when third in last year’s Scottish National

Harry: Planet Of Sound (Won a 100k+ race at Punchestown in 2010 and showed he is back to form by finishing runner-up in the Hennessy

Siobhan: Black Apalachi (Finished second in 2010 on his third attempt – fourth time lucky?

Lissie: Calgary Bay (Fell in last year’s Grand National, improved form this season

Rebecca C: Neptune Collonges (Top class chaser who has an exuberant jumping style that would be a great sight at Aintree

Amelia: The Midnight Club (Ruby Walsh rode a great race to get this horse round last year – could improve in 2012

Holly: Quiscover Fontaine (Maybe the best outsider?

Alfie: Rare Bob (Dessie Hughes’ runners always warrant respect in the Grand National

Rebecca W: State Of Play (Has become a Grand National legend – placed three times!

Harrison: Alfa Beat (Double Kerry National winner who has had the Grand National as his target all season

Bronwen: Mon Mome (100/1 grand national winner in 2009 got as far as the 26th fence in 2010. Still a force to be reckoned with

Silva: Weird Al (Won the 2011 Charlie Hall at Wetherby and then finished third behind Kauto Star at Haydock

Rae and Grandad : Deep Purple (Doubts about his stamina seem to have been quashed with recent win over 3m 5f.

Rory: Vic Venturi (Has had no luck in his two previous attempts, could be dangerous with a clear round in 2012

Ella W: Arbor Supreme (Failed to complete in last two Nationals but has the talent to play a part

Annabelle: Hello Bud (Finished 5th in National in 2010 and then won Becher Chase. A great jumper.

Jake: Midnight Haze (Good recent record, four wins in last eight starts.

Emily: Swing Bill (Three time winner over fences but does he have the required stamina for a National?

Henry: Tatenen (Not the most obvious candidate for the National as stamina at three miles is still in doubt

Beatrice: Viking Blond (Decent novice this season but big ask to step up to the Grand National with such little experience

Toby (Snr): In Compliance (Former winner of a Grade One chase but no real form at over 2m6f. Dessie Hughes will have to find some form for this one.

Jasmine: Neptune Equester (This race has been the target all year

Jason: Postmaster (Winner of his last two races, interesting outsider

Nick: Tharawaat (Trainer won the Grand National in 2007

The Devil is in the Detail

Satchmo IV and Bonzo the Bull

In remembrance of my dad 1914-1944

I have a copy of “Passage to Destiny” by Brian Crabb which is an account of the sinking of SS Khedive Ismael in the sea war against Japan. It is an enthralling story, one that the British Government managed to keep top secret for 50+ years after WWII. But thanks to the perseverance of Brian Crabb, I know what happened to my dad and all those on SS Khedive Ismael in the convoy to Ceylon in February 1944. Contact me if you want to read it.

Dad before he enlisted in the Navy