With over a quarter of the 40-strong field at the Aintree Grand National Irish-trained, there will be a distinctly Gaelic feel to one of the biggest races of the season.
 
The Aintree Grand National is the most valuable handicap chase in the world. It takes place just outside Liverpool, and since the turn of the century has an annual TV audience of over 600 million viewers.
 
11 of the 40 starters have Irish trainers and six of the last ten winners have been Irish-trained.
 
Ireland's Tony McCoy, the first jockey to have over 3,000 winners, will ride the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Butler’s Cabin, while one of the favorites, My Will, will be ridden by Ruby Walsh">Ruby Walsh.
 
Walsh is on a rich vein of form after wining seven races at the recent Chleltenham Racing Festival.
 
The Willie Mullins">Willie Mullins-trained Irish Invader will have Paul Townend">Paul Townend on board for his debut at the National.
 
Local weather is expected to remain dry until race time, which means good ground for the runners.