The John Smith’s Grand National is a race like no other and receives more attention than all others.

Since the inaugural running in 1839, winning the Grand National has been the pinnacle of ambition.

Owners, trainers and jockeys worldwide are fascinated by the thought of capturing the legendary Aintree contest.

It is the most famous chase in the world and one of the biggest tests for a racehorse.

Eastern European countries and Russia have sent horses to compete, while the Irish, North Americans, French, Scandinavians, Australians, New Zealanders and Japanese are just as keen to win the John Smith’s Grand National.

But the formidable home challenge takes some beating around the two circuits of the Grand National course – four and a half miles in all.

And there is nothing quite like that sensation of heart-clutching, wriggling expectation as the 40-strong field for the John Smith’s Grand National is persuaded into line, ready to tackle the first ofthe 30 fences.

Whether at Aintree or at home watching the BBC television coverage, a general hush falls until the starter calls the field of up to 40 runners into line.

The tape rises and the most anticipated race in the calendar begins to huge cheers as the field thunders towards the first fence.

After a heart-stopping moment the runners pour over the top and on to the next.

The sense of excitement, which begins at such a great height, tumbles and hurtles onwards throughout nearly 10 minutes of action, and often afterwards.

Betting slips, carefully clutched, are not to be celebrated until the result has been officially announced.

Many are the reversals of fortune in the yards between the last fence and the winning post, with the replays avidly studied to determine what happened where.

Devon Loch’s famous and inexplicable collapse in the 1956 Grand National, a mere 50 yards from victory, serves as a constant reminder that the race is often won and lost in the final  run from the ‘elbow’.

The once-a-year punters come out in force, scouring the list of runners to locate their selection in the office sweepstake, or placing their wager on a horse with a topical name – Party Politics  was a popular choice when he won the great race in 1992, with the nation on the brink of a general election.

It is the only day of the year when you can go to your local betting shop and be guaranteed to see some of the neighbours. Even your aunt manages to retain the meaning of ‘each-way’ for a few minutes.

At 4.15pm on 14 April 2007, there would be few bookmakers willing to lay odds on what much of the nation, and many more throughout the world, will be doing for the next quarter of an hour.

The race also holds an extraordinary fascination for the jockeys,trainers and owners who are involved in jump racing day in, day out.

So many talented jockeys at the peak of their professional powers have failed to add the John Smith’s Grand National to their list of trophies.

So many trainers yearn to produce the kind of horse agile and courageous enough to negotiate the demanding fences and the stamina-sapping distance.
So many owners spend uncountable years and money seeking the horse that will make their cherished dream come true. So few are blessed to unearth a horse with the required ability and necessary quota of good fortune needed to capture the most sought after prize in jump racing.

Not only is the great race compellingly demanding – the feeling of even completing is one cherished among riders – but it is also financially rewarding.

Prize money of £700,000 is on offer for those who compete in the 160th running of the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree in  2007. It is by far the highest amount of money that any chase outside Japan can boast. The prize is set to become even more tempting, rising to £1 million by 2010.

Millions and millions of people in Britain bet on the John Smith’s Grand National each year, making the race easily the biggest single turnover event.

Whether in one of Britain’s 8,000 off-course betting shops, over the telephone, through the internet or interactively, bettors will be out in force. Bookmakers estimate that over £250 million is wagered in Britain on the day, with the John Smith’s Grand National accounting for the bulk of that.

Numbersixvalverde’s success in the 2006 John Smith’s Grand National, as a well-supported 11/1 fourth favourite who was also popular in the ante-post market, provided a good result for bettors who will be hoping for a similar outcome on 14 April.