Will Leighton Aspell be celebrating again? PA Archive / Press Association Images PA Archive / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Three big talking points

1. A Grand day for it? For many, the Grand National — 5.15pm — might well be the one horse race they watch in a year, never mind have a flutter on.

If you’d like to leave your pick to chance, we’ve got you sorted here but there’s every reason to think that Many Clouds (8/1) can become the first horse since 1974 to defend a Grand National.

Not only can Oliver Sherwood’s nine-year-old make history, but Kildare jockey Leighton Aspell is bidding to become the first rider to ever win the race three times in a row.

Could Black Thunder spring a surprise? Nick Potts / PA Archive/Press Association Images Nick Potts / PA Archive/Press Association Images / PA Archive/Press Association Images

2. Saint Are you in with a chance? Outside the favourite, there’s any number of horses who will fancy their chances around the four mile, 30-fence course. Of those is Saint Are (16/1), last year’s runner-up.

Elsewhere Jonjo O’Neill has real chances in Holywell (16/1) and Shutthefrontdoor (16/1), who was the final National ride for Tony McCoy last year.

If the rain keeps falling at Liverpool, anything could happen and Black Thunder (66/1), Rule the World (40/1) and even Home Farm (100/1) for Henry de Bromhead could belie their lengthy odds.

Thistlecrack is the form staying hurdler in 2016. David Davies / PA Wire/Press Association Images David Davies / PA Wire/Press Association Images / PA Wire/Press Association Images

3. Can Thistlecrack it? There is other racing on Grand National Day at Aintree and Thistlecrack (1/4) looks to continue his dream season in the Liverpool Stayers’ Hurdle at 3.40pm.

Colin Tizzard’s World Hurdle winner will attempt to make it five wins in a row but will face a new challenge in the Willie Mullins’ trained Shaneshill (14/1) who reverts to the hurdles after finishing second in the RSA Chase last month.

Nap of the Day

With Thistlecrack (1/4), Douvan (1/7) and Yorkhill (1/4) all offering little or no value, even in an accumulator, we’re going to go with Many Clouds at 8/1. On weights, form and experience he really should be about a 5/1 favourite so we’re taking the (slighly more) generous odds and hoping he makes history.

An each-way fancy

There’s every reason to be keen on Gallant Oscar for Tony Martin in the Grand National and, at 20/1, even a top five finish is still going to pay 5/1.

Accumulator

We’re going for a double and pairing up Many Clouds in the Grand National with Thistlecrack which pays just over 10/1.

The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!