- The Willie Mullins-trained I Am Maximum is going for back-to-back wins
- Gordon Elliott is bidding for a record-equalling fourth Grand National win
- Recommended be: Three Card Brag each-way

The Grand National at Aintree is one of Britain's most treasured sporting events and takes pride of place on Saturday afternoon as a chapter in history beckons for the latest winner.

I Am Maximus is the defending champion and will attempt to become the first horse since Red Rum to carry top-weight to glory in the Aintree marathon as he spearheads a strong assault from Willie Mullins on the contest.

A full field of 34 contenders tackles 30 fences on the four-and-a-quarter-mile journey around Aintree, with the big race due off at 16:00 on Saturday afternoon.

Our resident racing expert has picked out a NAP and Next Best selection for the Aintree Grand National, where LiveScore Bet are paying out each-way on the first SIX home.

NAP: Three Card Brag each-way @ 22/1

Gordon Elliott has long been a fan of getting this horse into this very race. Three Card Brag is stamina-laden, as evidenced with his Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle fourth at Cheltenham in 2023 over three miles.

In his first season over fences he ran some pleasing races in defeat, placed behind talented sorts such as Corbetts Cross, Monty's Star and Spillane's Tower in Ireland.

He ran well on his first chase start of this term at Leopardstown over Christmas, then won a beginners' chase at Navan (3m, soft) in January.

When last spotted he was behind stablemates Better Days Ahead and Stellar Story in Grade 2 novice company at the same venue, form advertised by that duo in defeats at the Cheltenham Festival.

Elliott had a sweat waiting to get into this race, but Three Card Brag eventually crept in at number 32, with a mark of 146 and just 10st 5lb to carry.

Connections also secured Britain's champion jockey-elect Sean Bowen for the ride, another positive.

He has a light weight, threatens to be suited ideally by a thorough stamina test and is unexposed over fences. This season-season novice seems to have plenty in his favour.

Next Best: Threeunderthrufive each-way @ 33/1

The Irish challenge is strong, with the raiders bidding for a fifth National in the last six runnings, but there's plenty of reason for optimism amongst the British training ranks too.

Iroko is a major player for Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, while Nicky Henderson attempts to slay his National hoodoo with Hyland.

Paul Nicholls, who had a Grade 1 winner here on Friday, saddles five runners. Kandoo Kid is the mount of stable jockey Harry Cobden, but Team Ditcheat will have high hopes too for Threeunderthrufive.

He is an out-and-out stayer and was fourth in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr in 2023. He has run six times since and only finished outside of the first three once.

He won the Swinley Handicap Chase at Ascot last season and went agonisingly close in the same contest this spring. He's got bags of stamina and could give Harry Skelton a real thrill over the National fences.