Thursday 7th April. Liverpool Day – The opening day of the Festival will be graced by the well known ‘Squire of Knotty Ash’ Mr Ken Dodd. Ken who says he attended his first Aintree some seventy years ago at the tender age of thirteen remembers backing Lovely Cottage, the winner in 1946. In his opinion The Grand National is “the greatest race in the world” he also added “It’s not just a race – it’s a pageant and I am thrilled that I will be there with my tickling stick to get the entertainment underway.” There will be no shortage of Liverpool themed entertainment and the Red Devils will also make an appearance and there will be music from the Brass section of The Philharmonic. You might fancy a flutter on the Totesport Bowl Steeplechase at 3.10 or the Foxhunters Steeplechase at 3.45 which is run over the Grand National course.

Friday 8th April Ladies Day – This is the Big One for the ladies. It’s time to enter the ‘Fashion Stakes Chase’. While lots of us are normally more than happy in jeans and t shirts, joggers, or even, go on admit it pyjamas, you have to make an effort for this. It’s time to show off the new outfit, complete with some statement jewellery, the real stuff is great if you can run to it but there is some fabulous costume jewellery available to. Bring on the Jimmy Choo’s, Louboutin’s and dont forget your designer handbags, it’s almost as exciting as the horse racing!

As we’re talking fashion, back to the controversy mentioned earlier which involves Coleen Rooney who presented the fashion prizes last year. This year she will be a V.I.P. guest and it has been reported in the press that two of Wayne’s dubious lady friends will also be present. They are said to have entered the Matalan Style Contest splashing £2000 on designer dresses and as V.I.P. ticket holders will be able to mingle with the celebs. Coleen can’t be to thrilled at the prospect! After all that don’t forget to place your bets, you could try your luck on the J.S. Mildmay Novices Steeplechase at 2.35 or the John Smiths Topham Steeplechase which runs over the National course at 3.45.

Saturday 9th April Grand National Day – Today it’s time to seriously turn your attention to the horse racing. The Big One, the John Smiths Grand National Steeplechase will be run at 4.15. One of the most exciting races to watch, people who normally never gamble will be getting their purses and wallets out for a little flutter today. Everyone has their own preferred method for picking a horse, from the serious punters who study the horses form diligently, to those of us who prefer the ‘I like the name’ the horses colours or ‘the jockey’s not bad’ approach.

It really doesn’t matter which method you use everyone’s in with a chance in this race, although there are a few things you might like to take into consideration. The top jump jockeys are Ruby Walsh, Tony McCoy, and Richard Johnson. They have to have a chance of riding the winner, also it’s almost unheard of for a horse carrying more than 11st 5lbs to win the race, after that it’s all in the lap of the gods! If you’re going to be at home watching the race, online betting couldn’t be simpler, you wont even have to leave the house and you will have a great choice of bookies.

Whether you are at Aintree with a glass of champagne or at home with a cuppa watching on T.V. it promises to be an exciting three days of racing, so have a look at those racing colours and jockeys and Good Luck.

Niche Market has had shortening odds since he was officially entered, moving from 25/1 to 20/1 to 16/1 to his now 12/1 ante-post favourite position. I’d love to be able to give an explanation for all the sudden love he’s being showed but given that he hasn’t raced since November 2010, I can’t be certain that it’s anything other than his handicapped weight and connection murmurings!

Oscar Time has had one of the fastest turnarounds with the bookies. Originally placed in no-mans-land on the table of odds, he has rapidly been shortened for the race and gone from 40/1 to 20/1 to now 16/1 following Phil Smiths handicap weight of 10-09 which is definitely a plus for him, though still a weight he has never run a chase with.

As the race draws nearer, everybody and their neighbour will have a tip, but here’s mine – weight until final declarations, check out the 9 or 10 year olds, narrow it down to a horse who has run the distance before, on good form, performs well on the same Going as Aintree on the race day, back your chosen horse and then pray to God that he doesn’t fall!

The Donald McCain Jnr trained, 10 year old was given 11-00 in the weights today, which is well within the limits for a potential win while last year’s winner, Don’t Push It, has been handicapped at 5lbs more than 2010 on the top-weight of 11-10 which will make it incredible difficult for him to retain the title.

McCain, son of four time Grand National trainer Ginger McCain, told the Racing Post: “I’m happy with 11st, it’s a good racing weight. He is wrong at the weights but he’s a high-profile horse and is well fancied for the race, so that doesn’t surprise me. I’m not going to complain about it, we’ll just take it as it comes.”

Some horses did very well while others appear to have crippled by the handicap case in point being The Midnight Club, who, all things considered, could have been in with a real shot had he not been burdened with 11-06. Historically horses weighing less than 11-03 tend to do far better in this race due to the grueling nature of the jumps – the less weight you carry, the easier it is to get around!

For all of the best and latest 2011 Grand National Odds just check out below…

His most famous horses are the incredible Denman whom he co-owns with Paul Barber and Big Fella Thanks, who is tipped for the 2011 Grand National and they are but two of the once 80 race horses that he owned. But Findlay isn’t just another horse owner, he’s known as Britains premier punter ans plays the odds as a profession gambler, always chasing that elusive big win. Reportedly, at one time, worth over £2m, Findlay’s turbulent time in racing looks like coming to an end in April after he revealed that he is to sell off the rest of the horses he owns.

Findlay, who was warned off for six months by the BHA in June last year for laying one of his horses, subsequently had that ban overturned the following month on appeal and instead it was replaced with a £4,500 fine. He was soon back on the racecourse, as well as in the sales ring, buying five yearlings but by August he had cut back dramatically on his equine interests when the jumpers he owned in partnership with Paul Barber were sold.

Since then, however, his mother’s colours have become a less frequent sight on racecourses, with just five runners over jumps and two on the Flat. And on Sunday, Findlay said he was totally cutting his ties with the sport, with the horses he has remaining running under the name of his mother, Margaret, due to be sold off at the Doncaster Bloodstock Sales Horses In Training auction.

It is believed that the last race he will enter as an owner is the 2011 Grand National with Big Fella Thanks and what an upset that would be if he won!!

For all the latest Grand National 2011 Odds and Runners, Click Here

This is how it’s going to work. The Grand National is a Class 1, Grade 3 race over four miles and four furlongs that is open to six year olds and upwards which are allotted a rating of 110 or more by the BHA Head of Handicapping following a review of the horses entered and after taking account of races run up to and including February 14, 2010. The race is going to be run on Saturday April 10th 2010 at 4.15pm at Aintree with a £925,000 total Prize Fund.

The weights will be revealed February 16 with the maximum allocated weight being 11st 10lb. The first scratchings have a deadline of March 2nd, the second scratchings deadline is March 23rd and the five/six-day confirmation stage will be April 5th with final declarations to be announced at 10.00am, April 8.

Below is the full list of all 112 entries and their odds with Paddy Power Bookmakers. They are still ante-post given the huge list and only when the weights are declared in two weeks will we really be able to indicate who is most likely to run on the day.

1. Tricky Trickster 16/1
2. Black Apalachi 20/1
3. Big Fella Thanks 20/1
4. Niche Market 20/1
5. Possol 20/1
6. War Of Attrition 20/1
7. Vic Venturi 20/1
8. Comply Or Die 25/1
9. Mon Mome 25/1
10. Backstage 25/1
11. Don’t Push It 25/1
12. Arbor Supreme 25/1
13. Dream Alliance 25/1
14. Taranis 25/1
15. State Of Play 33/1
16. Character Building 33/1
17. My Will 33/1
18. Irish Raptor 33/1
19. Hello Bud 33/1
20. Notre Pere 33/1
21. Can’t Buy Time 33/1
22. Snowy Morning 33/1
23. Gone To Lunch 33/1
24. Ballyholland 33/1
25. King Johns Castle 33/1
26. Air Force One 33/1
27. Albertas Run 33/1
28. Casey Jones 33/1
29. Madison Du Berlais 33/1
30. Our Vic 33/1
31. Roulez Cool 33/1
32. Siegemaster 33/1
33. The Package 33/1
34. Whinstone Boy 33/1
35. Offshore Account 40/1
36. Parsons Legacy 40/1
37. Joe Lively 40/1
38. Abbeybraney 40/1
39. Beroni 40/1
40. Le Beau Bai 40/1
41. Maljimar 40/1
42. Nozic 40/1
43. Officier De Reserve 40/1
44. Palypso De Creek 40/1
45. Seven Is My Number 40/1
46. Gallant Nuit 50/1
47. According To John 50/1
48. Ballyfitz 50/1
49. Ballytrim 50/1
50. Beat The Boys 50/1
51. Cane Brake 50/1
52. Chelsea Harbour 50/1
53. Cloudy Lane 50/1
54. Coe 50/1
55. Dooneys Gate 50/1
56. Ellerslie George 50/1
57. Equus Maximus 50/1
58. Flintoff 50/1
59. Glenfinn Captain 50/1
60. Iris De Balme 50/1
61. Irish Invader 50/1
62. Kilcrea Castle 50/1
63. Kornati Kid 50/1
64. Louping D’Ainay 50/1
65. New Alco 50/1
66. Oodachee 50/1
67. Parsons Pistol 50/1
68. Pomme Tiepy 50/1
69. Razor Royale 50/1
70. Royal County Star 50/1
71. Silver Birch 50/1
72. Sizing Australia 50/1
73. Star De Mohaison 50/1
74. Trabolgan 50/1
75. Treacle 50/1
76. Anothercoppercoast 66/1
77. Belon Gale 66/1
78. Boychuk 66/1
79. Cerium 66/1
80. Chief Dan George 66/1
81. Conna Castle 66/1
82. Darkness 66/1
83. Deutschland 66/1
84. Eric’s Charm 66/1
85. Follow The Plan 66/1
86. Jayo 66/1
87. Kilbeggan Blade 66/1
88. Merigo 66/1
89. Mr Pointment 66/1
90. Mumbles Head 66/1
91. One Cool Cookie 66/1
92. Over The Creek 66/1
93. Pablo Du Charmil 66/1
94. Piraya 66/1
95. Preists Leap 66/1
96. Trust Fund 66/1
97. Bible Lord 100/1
98. Chiaro 100/1
99. Cossack Dancer 100/1
100. Duers 100/1
101. Faasel 100/1
102. Kings Advocate 100/1
103. Knowhere 100/1
104. Lennon 100/1
105. Lorum Leader 100/1
106. Made In Taipan 100/1
107. Offaly 100/1
108. Old Benny 100/1
109. Ollie Magern 100/1
110. Pak Jak 100/1
111. Royal Rosa 100/1
112. Wee Robbie 100/1