Grand National 2011

The 2011 John Smith's Grand National, the world's greatest steeple chase race, takes place at Aintree Racecourse on Saturday, April 9, with Don't Push It and Tony McCoy attempting to win the race for second year running.

Multiple champion jockey McCoy ended his search for a victory in the great race 12 months ago when leading Don't Push It to success, but the pair will have to concede weight all round in the marathon four-mile and four-furlong contest over some of the trickiest fences (30 of them) used in any horse race.

Whoever prevails in the 2011 renewal of the race, which dates back to 1836, they will join a roll of honour that includes the names of three-time winner Red Rum, the only horse to achieve the feat, Aldaniti, ridden to victory by cancer-suffering Bob Champion, Mr Frisk, winner in 1990 in the fastest ever time, Lord Gyllene, who won on a Monday in 1997 after the race was rescheduled following hoax bomb alerts two days earlier, and Mon Mome, whose 100/1 success in 2009 made him the biggest priced winner of the race.

Among the contenders in opposition to Don't Push It are The Midnight Club, the choice of leading jockey Ruby Walsh, Blue Sea Cracker, purchased by last year's winning owner JP McManus just last week, Tidal Bay, Midnight Chase, Synchronised, Big Fella Thanks, fourth last year, and Backstage. 

But arguably the most likely winner will be the Sir Alex Ferguson-owned What A Friend. Fourth in the Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival when beaten by just 11 lengths, he effectively is lumps of weight in hand and, with regular jockey pilot Daryl Jacob retaining the ride, there is every chance of a Manchester United win on Merseyside.