RUNNERS AND RIDERS IN WORLD'S GREATEST RACE

IT'S that time of the year when virtually everyone has a flutter on the world's greatest horse race...the Grand National.

Today's race will be watched by 600 million people in over 140 countries ensuring its status as the biggest and most eagerly anticipated race on the planet And that represents a great labour of love for me on easily Betfred's busiest day of the year.

When they are off at Aintree at 4pm, it is estimated that a record topping £100 million will have been staked and much of that will be 50p each way bets from our once a year punters.

Thirty four runners will line up, tackling 30 fences, over a trip of 4m two-and-a-half furlongs.

The race is steeped in history ever since Captain Martin Becher was dismounted and took cover in a brook during the first race in 1839 thus giving the name to the most famous part of the track.

Back then when the race was called the Grand Liverpool Steeplechase, the horses jumped stone walls and charged across ploughed fields.