This Saturday sees the running of the John Smiths grand national over an energy sapping 4 miles and 4 furlongs at Aintree with 40 runners ready to tackle the worlds greatest race so is winning it luck or skill.

Its a tough question to answer as there's so many obstacles to overcome to get over that finishing line but I'm going to try and give you a few horses to look out for with also a few stats on the race as well.

1-In the last 21 years only 3 favourites have run the race.

2-The last 11 races only 3 winners have been bigger than 16/1 or more so it may pay to follow horses at the top end of the market.

3-Follow horses aged 8-12 years old who are weighted below 11 stone 5 pounds and have already won over a distance of 3 miles or more.

With that in mind I'm going to give you a few runners i think could run well and go close.

MY WILL-trained by champion trainer Paul Nicholls and ridden by Ruby Walsh this horse has to be respected after finishing 5Th in the Gold Cup and is well weighted to go very close to giving Nicholls his very 1st national winner.

BUTLERS CABIN-former Irish National winner will probably be ridden by champion A.P.McCOY and was running a fantastic race in 2008 when falling if he gets his jumping right must also go close.

RAMBLING MINSTER-is my NAP for this year if this horse takes to jumping these tricky fences has to be there at the finish as he stays the distance well.

KILBEGGAN BLADE-another who has not jumped these fences yet but again could go close under previous winning jockey Graham Lee.

COMPLY OR DIE-last years impressive winner who is aiming to become the first horse to retain his crown since RED RUM and showed improvement last time out at the Cheltenham festival.

There my 5 to follow on Saturday and I'm hoping that one of them can take this amazing race and put a few quid in our pockets come Saturday evening.

GOOD LUCK.