Flanagan ready for Aintree take-off

Sean Flanagan and his trusty co-pilot Jody McGarvey will be winging their way to Liverpool on Saturday morning for the 173rd running of the famous Aintree Grand National.

Flanagan pilots his own Rallye 110ST and will be in action at Wexford tomorrow as will McGarvey and the duo will then turn their attention to the trip to Aintree on Saturday.

Flanagan will partner the Noel Meade-trained Tout Est Permis in the big race while McGarvey will have Alpha Des Obeaux for company over the 30 fences, both runners are owned by Gigginstown.

Meath trainers Noel Meade, Tony Martin and Denise Foster will be flying the Royal County flag and John McConnell could also have a runner.

However, McConnell needs one of the 40 declared runners to come out for his number 41 Some Neck to get into the race.

Noel Meade and Sean Flanagan will have the Gigginstown-owned Tout Est Permis (number 11) lining up while Tony Martin's ultra-consistent-around-Aintree Anibale Fly (12) will have Denis O'Regan for company on the JP McManus-owned contender.

Denise Foster and Team Cullentra have the Gigginstown quartet of Farclas (34) Jack Kennedy; Milan Native (25) JJ Codd; Shattered Love (20) Kevin Sexton and Alpha Des Obeaux (17) Jody McGarvey bidding to win the race.

For McConnell it's a waiting game at this stage to see if Some Neck (41) and Simon Torrens get into the race (maximum of 40 runners allowed) and that will be finalised tomorrow (Friday) by 1pm.

Meath jockey Robbie Power will partner Magic of Light (8) for Jessica Harrington.

What are the odds of a 100/1 or greater winner?

Not likely as only five winners have been returned at 100/1 - Tipperary Tim (1928), Gregalach (1929), Caughoo (1947), Foinavon (1967) and Mon Mome (2009).

The last favourite to win the race was Tiger Roll (4/1) in 2019 - the 2020 race wasn't run.