The greatest horse racing event in the world, the Grand National, is just a few weeks away and a record 150 horses have been registered for the big race in the hope of a place in the line up on 5 April.

This year’s Grand National at Aintree Liverpool will be worth 800,000 sterling in prize money and will be watched by millions of people around the world.

The horse that wins this very prestigious race will be inscribed in the rich history of the race that dates back to 1836.

Ireland, winners of six out of the last nine Grand National, will be represented by a massive 38 runners, while France will have six entries.

Top trainer David Pipe, the son of the legendry Martin Pipe will saddle nine runners for the big race and is the favourite to land the big prize with one of his runners.

I could not agree more with the book makers naming celestial Gold and Vodka Bleu as his strongest pair.

Particularly so I tip Vodka Bleu, a winner in his last two races, to edge his stable mate at the finish in the four and a half mile marathon.

The present favourite, Cloudy Lane does not represent value for money at 8-1 while Hedgehunter, the winner of the 2005 Grand National had mixed fortunes when second in a recent chase at Fairyhose in Ireland.

My prediction, Vodka Bleu, is the right gamble for the big race, and at the incredible, attractive odds of 33-1, David Pipe can follow in his father’s footsteps and have his name inscribed in the long list of masters of Aintree.