BIG NATIONAL BREAKFAST: Caldwell Potter comes as blow to Sir Alex Ferguson as record buyer suffers foot injury, jockey stars visit Alder Hey…and the millionaire who BOUGHT a horse to get into the historic race

The final day of the Grand National Festival at Aintree features Britain’s most watched horse racing.

Trainer Lucinda Russell and partner Peter Scudamore are sticking to the winning formula as Corach Rambler chases back-to-back Grand National victories.

The work routines are a carbon copy of what worked so well 12 months ago.

If he wins, Corach Rambler, trained at Lucinda Russell’s Arlary House stables, will be only the second consecutive winner of the world’s biggest steeplechase since Red Rum in 1974.

Here, Mail Sport offers a slice of the Grand National Breakfast, taking a look at everything that’s happening on and off the iconic racecourse.

The final day of racing at Aintree will see one of the most watched races in the world take place.

Last year’s winner, Corach Rambler, is aiming for back-to-back wins to match Red Rum’s unrivaled performance.

Bad luck for record holder Caldwell Potter

Sir Alex Ferguson knows better than most how an unexpected injury can impact a title race and so he will have his sympathy for Paul Nicholls.

The reigning champion trainer had considered launching the British career of Caldwell Potter – the horse Ferguson and three friends bought for a record £634,000 in February – in the Mersey Novices Hurdle and all went well in his preparations.

Nicholls is in a fight with Dan Skelton and Willie Mullins where every penny counts and Caldwell Potter was expected to come very close to landing the £56,270 top prize. So imagine his disappointment when he discovered last night that a foot infection would rule him out.

Caldwell Potter will make a full recovery soon enough, but Ferguson, John Hales, Ged Mason and Peter Done are going to have to bide their time before seeing him race – and time is not something Nicholls has on his side as the pressure is applied of all. angles.

Caldwell Potter was due to make his debut for trainer Paul Nicolls at Aintree on Saturday

Sir Alex Ferguson and three friends bought Caldwell Potter for a record £634,000.

Jockeys visit Alder Hey

Aintree’s connection with Alder Hey, the famous children’s hospital, is unbreakable – the course gave away 110 tickets to hospital staff to mark its 110th anniversary – and one of the highlights for jockeys competing in the Grand National is the opportunity to participate in the annual event. travel to the establishment.

Rachael Blackmore, Sean Bowen, Sam Twiston-Davies and Nico De Boinville were part of the huge team who arrived at Alder Hey on Friday morning and spent hours taking time to speak to patients and families. It is, as Twiston-Davies acknowledged, a privilege for them to be invited to visit.

What makes this partnership so enduring is that the Alder Hey name is still visible, serving as a reminder of the fantastic service it provides to young people in the area. Their race on Friday, the jockeys’ final conditional hurdle, was won by outsider El Jefe 40/1.

The race named in honor of Liverpool Children’s Hospital was won by outsider El Jefe 40/1

The big players are coming

Among the track’s wonderful facilities, did you know that Aintree has its own helicopter port? At the fifth fence, a golf course fairway that dominates the grounds has been transformed into a temporary takeoff and landing area for the big players who arrive daily.

“Temporary” suggests the setup is primitive, but nothing could be further from the truth. It is equipped with a luxurious waiting room, radar control area and route for chauffeur service to transport guests to their desired destination with minimum hassle and maximum discretion.

Aintree has a host of wonderful facilities, including its own plush helicopter pad.

Security conflict for JP McManus

Safety is paramount at Aintree and checks are carried out at every possible time to see if you have the right badge for the right enclosure. Those charged with carrying out checks take their responsibilities seriously, as JP McManus found.

After seeing Jonbon put his head down and race to the finish line in the Melling Chase, McManus had returned to the winners’ enclosure with trainer Nicky Henderson to greet his winning horse.

However, being arguably the most famous man on the course didn’t guarantee getting through the necessary gate at first, since he didn’t have his badge to show a female security guard. A smile, a quiet word and a little laugh later and the problem was solved.

JP McManus is one of the most successful owners in steeplechasing – but even he required a thorough safety check

Jamie Neild’s Aintree dream realized

Most young boys from Merseyside grow up with the dream of scoring a winning goal at Goodison Park or Anfield and Jamie Neild was no different – ​​a die-hard Evertonian, he was on Liverpool’s books when he was young and played football at a decent level. level.

Neild, however, had another dream and today it will come true when he gets the edge over Josh The Boss – owned by his father, John – in the Grade One Mersey Novices Hurdle. A local boy being in the thick of the action on National Day is a rare event and he will relish it.

Last November, Neild and Josh The Boss brightened up a mundane Aintree card by winning the course and distance of Saturday’s race, sparking wild celebrations. You can’t imagine what it would be like if both men pulled off a huge upset, but they will do their best.

What makes this so special is that Neild is purely an amateur jockey and got into horse racing purely to try and ride a winner at Aintree. He’s realistic about Josh The Boss’ prospects against some outstanding Irish horses, but stranger things have happened.

Millionaire entrepreneur David Maxwell to compete in Ain’t That A Shame at the Grand National

Maxwell lands the purchase of his life

Auto racing’s unique place in the sporting landscape is best highlighted by this: Where else could someone make a late purchase to secure a spot in the event? For example, you can’t just buy an expensive set of golf clubs with the intention of playing a round at Augusta.

With that in mind, watch how Ain’t That A Shame fares in the big race. The gelding was trained by Henry de Bromhead 12 months ago and became a favorite of Rachael Blackmore and owner Brian Acheson, but never became competitive.

Ain’t That A Shame won the historic Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park in January for this trio, but was then sold to Corinthian amateur David Maxwell, 45, specifically to run in the National. It will be the thrill of the real estate developer’s life.