Way back in 1982 Grittar became the first hunter chaser of the modern era to win the Grand National when partnered by 48-year-old amateur rider Dick Saunders to a famous Aintree success. This year Trust Fund, a very smart hunter chaser himself, may attempt to be the first this millennium to repeat the feat, writes Elliot Slater.

Many Grand National Betting punters fail to take seriously the prospects of a hunter chaser winning the world’s greatest steeplechase, but when you get a very high class hunter chaser, they can be well worth a place in the line-up. Richard Barber’s Trust Fund has little to prove having won the Fox Hunters’ Trophy at Aintree last year, jumping brilliantly before holding on gamely to outpoint course specialist Christie Beamish by four lengths, under Tom Greenall.

Trust Fund, a 12-year-old, has run well throughout his career over distances beyond four miles, jumps very soundly and prefers a decent surface; he would be an unlikely starter in the case of very soft ground. Having beaten 19 rivals at Chepstow prior to his Aintree victory where 29 others were left toiling in his wake, Trust Fund then went to Cheltenham where he justified odds-on with a never-say-die effort to win on the nod from former classy staying chaser Take The Stand.

Not seen out yet this term, Trust Fund is a horse who can run very well after an extended break and seems to get on particularly well with Tom Greenall, whose father Lord Daresbury owns the near veteran, who although knocking on a bit has actually only raced twenty times during his seven season career.

Available at a best priced 100/1 with Grand National Odds, Trust Fund might well give those interested in backing a long shot a seriously good run for their money and could go close to reviving memories of 1982 in attempting to put the hunter chase fraternity back in the Grand National spotlight.

In 2007 Gordon Elliott proved that age, experience and reputation are not precursors for success at the Aintree Grand National. The novice trainer who had not yet had a single winner in his homeland of Ireland, won the steeplechase with 33-1 shot Silver Birch.

As the youngest ever trainer to win the race, at 29 years of age, Gordon Elliott had apparently just bought Silver Birch as a ‘fun horse for cross-country races.’ from legendary Champion trainer Paul Nicholls. The irony of course is that Nicholls, who is one of the best trainers in horse racing, has never won the Grand National despite his best attempts year on year.

Despite being a trainer at such a young age, Gordon Elliott was also an incredibly successful jockey in his own right. He moved to the Pipe yard in Somerset in 2002, where he went on to ride 200 winners and another 50 under Rules. He had hoped to enter the Grand National as a rider, but on his first attempt his license failed to come through on time and on his second attempt a more experienced rider came along and knocked him out of the running.

In July 2007 Elliot began training at Capranny Stables in Co. Meath, and it was here that he trained Silver Birch. The Grand National win proved Elliot to be a serious trainer, despite the fact that he had only trained three winners in Britain and none in Ireland. But he worked wonders with Silver Birch, and an impressive second place at the Cheltenham Festival convinced him that he should be entered in the National.

2010 will be interesting as Elliott is pinning his Grand National hopes on Backstage who is currently running middle of the pack with bookmakers ante-post odds which you can find at Paddy Power, Ladbrokes and Betfair. Robbie Power rode for him last year on Silver Birch and he’s a terrific jockey with great prospects so could this be Elliott’s second win?

Buzz surrounds the Aintree Grand National all year around with rampant speculation as to who will win months before the entrants have even been named so what are the prospects for one of the more seasoned horses – Comply or Die?

Comply or Die is trained by David Pipe and made his racecourse debut in a novices hurdle at Taunton, in October 2003. In March 2005 he managed to finish second to Trabolgan in the Grade One Royal and Sunalliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and finished the 2004/05 season with a sixth placing in the Befred Gold Cup. The following season was cut short after a setback in the Coral Welsh National and it would be two years before he was put on a racecourse again. Back at Cheltenham in October, 2007, Comply or Die lacked race fitness and only managed to finish in 16th place. He also disappointed on his next run when pulled up in a Grade Three Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on November 17.

It was the application of blinkers that produced a huge turnaround in Comply or Die, and he ran his best race up to that point, in the Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase at Haydock in December, finishing second behind the Grand National favourite Cloudy Lane. In the 2008 Grand National he beat off a strong challenge from King John’s Castle to take victory by four lengths, with Irish jockey Timmy Murphy riding the David Pipe-trained nine-year-old for his first Grand National win after 11 previous attempts. He followed up in the 2009 Grand National with a second place behind Mon Mome. He came out of the race in good shape so it looks likely that owner David Johnson will see fit to put him the 2010 National.

Age – generally we recommend horses who are 9 or 10 years old and Comply or Die will be 10 for the 2010 Grand National, making him a very good age.

Stamina – we know he can run the distance – he’s done it twice before without faltering…

Weight – could go against him with his previous great performances – he may get one of the top weights which could slow him down, limiting his chances for a second win.

Season – he hasn’t run in a single race since the 2009 Grand National so he’s either being groomed for the next one or he’s showing poor form and being given a bit of a break, only time will tell.

There have been horses that have gone down in Grand National history for their repeat performances – think Red Rum and Hedgehunter – can Comply or Die reach those dizzy heights of success? He was joint favourite at 7/1 in 2008, and odds fell to 14/1 in 2009 but I expect short odds on him again this year – somewhere around 10/1 or less if the bookies have their way so he could be good for an each-way bet…

For Ante-Post odds on Comply or Die, check out Paddy Power and don’t forget your free bet!