Kildare jockey Leighton Aspell looking to create history in English Grand National this weekend

Kildare native Leighton Aspell will be hoping to create history this weekend when he takes to the saddle of Many Clouds in search of a third English Grand National victory in a row. No other jockey has ever managed to win the iconic race three times in a row, and Aspell became the third person to win two grand nationals in a row since World War II when he rode the same horse to victory last year. Many Clouds will go off as favourite in Saturday’s race, and the Oliver Sherwood trained eight-year-old is getting some strong backing in the betting markets. Aspell was on board Many Clouds last month when the pair stormed to an impressive 10-length victory in the totelivepollinfo.com Premier Chase in Kelso, so the indications are that the Trevor Hemmings owned gelding is in good form. Curragh-based trainer Sandra Hughes has just one entrant among the 87 horses listed for entry in the 4 mile 4 furlong race. Golden Wonder is here sole representative, though he is a massive long shot with odds of 100/1 being the shortest offered on the 10-year-old. Ryan Loughran has been on board for Golden Wonder’s last number of races, but he has pulled him up twice in his last three runs, so his form is hardly ideal heading into such a marathon race. Silviniaco Conti is attracting plenty of money in the betting stakes so far this week, while the Gigginstown trained Sir Des Champs is probably the best placed of the Irish to challenge for the top spot.