Our 2008 Grand National ratings
SCOTIA (Ladbrokes' tipping champion Patrick Weaver) has top-rated two National winners in the last six years –– Bindaree 20-1 and Numbersixvalverde 11-1. Here are his ratings for this year's race...
Runners are rated from 5 down to 1.
HEDGEHUNTER (20-1): Won this in 2005, 2nd in 2006 but beaten 60l when 9th last year. Not as good as he was and top weights have poor record in the race. 1
HI CLOY (66-1): Best form is over 2m4f. Has never raced beyond 3m so stamina has to be taken on trust. Difficult to fancy. 1
KNOWHERE (50-1): Not won beyond 3m2f. Unseated Tom Doyle at Canal's Turn when he weas 100-1 last year. Latest 6th to Denman at Cheltenham was a good effort. 3
MR POINTMENT (16-1): Won 3m2f handicap here in November. 5 wins and 2 seconds from 12 starts is pretty good. Stamina unproven. 3
TURKO (25-1): Six-year-olds rarely run in the National as it is an ordeal for a youngster. Running-on nicely when 3rd to Old Vic at Cheltenham (2m4f) but this is a good deal further. 2
MADISON DU BERLAIS (50-1): Yet to win beyond 2m4f. Has not fallen in his last 20 races. More willing than most but a long way behind Knowhere on his last start. 2
SIMON (12-1): Not the best of jumpers and fell at the 25th fence last year. 2nd at Sandown over 3m6f and needs a career best to make the first four. 4
OPERA MUNDI (50-1): Very disappointing at Doncaster after winning by a head over 3m at Haydock. Likely his penultimate race took a lot out of him and may not stay the distance. 2
IRON MAN (66-1): Fallen on his two previous visits to Aintree. Pulled up in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Not raced beyond 3m3f. Hard to understand why is so high in the handicap. 1
FUNDAMENTALIST (66-1): Rarely falls but his blunders have restricted his win-and-place strike rate. All 5 wins over fences have come over distances short of 3m. Willing enough. 3
BUTLER'S CABIN (16-1): Collapsed from lack of oxygen after winning 4m1f novices' chase at the 2007 Cheltenham Festival. Later won the Irish National. Beaten 50l+ last two starts. Champion jockey on board. 4
SLIM PICKINGS (11-1): 5th at Cheltenham Festival in March 2007. Has been aimed at this race ever since his close 3rd in last year's National. 4
CHELSEA HARBOUR (14-1): 3m4f winner. Ran a good prep race when 4th at Leopardstown over 2m5f. 17l behind Butler's Cabin in 2007 Irish National. Top Irish jockey on board. 3
VODKA BLEU (40-1): Won over 2m5f and 3m this winter. Placed in 11 of his 18 chase. Possibly doesn't stay and rejected by Timmy Murphy in favour of Comply Or Die. 3
L'AMI (33-1): Second in the 2005 Hennessy. Not won for over 3 years. Made mistakes when ridden by McCoy and beaten 100l in last year's National. 2
SNOWY MORNING (16-1): Won 7 of his 14 races and among the best jumpers in the line-up. Classy and well-handicapped on his best 3m form. Fancied by his trainer but horses his age rarely win. 4
BEWLEYS BERRY (14-1): Was in the lead when he fell at Bechers on second circuit last year. 2nd to Mr Pointment here in November (3m2f). Last won in 2005 (3m1f). 4
CONTRABAND (500-1): Has lost his way since winning the Arkle Chase in 2005 when trained by M Pipe. Tailed off twice at this year's Cheltenham Festival. 1
McKELVEY (20-1): Ever so unlucky when he finished lame when beaten under a length in last year's race. Goes well for his young jockey. Coming to the boil after 2 quiet prep runs. 4
JOAACI (66-1): Won a 3m4f handicap chase in April 2005 but has not won over fences for over 2 years. Pulled up in 2007 Scottish National. needs to better his best to be placed. 3
POINT BARROW (20-1): Won the 2006 Irish National (3m5f). Fell at the first fence when co-favourite (and my tip!) for this last April. Good age. Undemanding preparation. 4
D'ARGENT (25-1): Runner-up in 2007 Midlands National (4m2f). Won by 7l from Philson Run over 3m5f this winter. Well-backed this week. E.W. chance. 4
NO FULL (66-1): Won only 2 of his 26 starts and has looked a non-stayer when raced beyond 2m6f. Few seven-year-olds figure in Nationals. 1
BAILY BREEZE (66-1): Trainer won the Irish National last month but this one has serious stamina doubts. Pulled up on his only start beyond 3m. Hard to fancy. 1
BOB HALL (66-1): His 3 victories have come over 2m, 2m2f and 2m5f. Only won one of his 9 chases. Never fallen. Done nothing to suggest he will aty the trip as he is best around 2m4f. 1
CLOUDY LANE (5-1): On the crest of a wave after winning 3 handicap chases (3m-3m2f). Usually placed. Rarely falls. Has struggled over in the past over 3m4f+. 4
KING JOHNS CASTLE (16-1): Won 4 and placed in 8 of his 20 races. Runner-up over 3m on heavy but far happier at around 2m2f and this is double that distance. Rejected by Tony McCoy. 1
MON MOME (25-1): Won a novice chase at this meeting in 2006. Excellent 2nd in 2006 Welsh National. Either reluctant or given poor ride at the Cheltenham Festival latest. Best outsider. 4
CORNISH SETT (100-1): 1st or 2nd in 13 of his 23 races but the further he goes, the further he is beaten when racing beyond 3m, tailed off in the Welsh National. 1
NAUNTON BROOK (66-1): 4th in Welsh National, beaten 66l in Midlands National, pulled up in last year's Grand National. Should have stayed at home. 1
TUMBLING DICE (100-1): Flat-bred 2m4f specialist who has looked ill at ease in all his chases over further. willing but out of his depth. 1
BACKBEAT (66-1): Inconsistent 3m chaser, makes one serious blunder in nearly all his races and can't afford to do that in a National. 1
COMPLY OR DIE (10-1): 8l winner of Eider Chase (4m2f), 1st or 2nd in 11 of his 19 races, sound jumper, jockey confident he has required stamina. 5
IDLE TALK (50-1): Has unseated his rider in 5 of his last 10 races, not won since Jan 2006 but was 4th in 2006 Scottish Grand National. 1
KELAMI (40-1): Pulled up 12 months ago, has run really well over 3m and 3m2f either side of falling when going well at Sandown. 3
MILAN DEUX MILLE (66-1): Won 4 handicap chases (2m3f to 2m5f) in a month last winter, would prefer it softer and not bred to stay the trip. Should have stayed at home, 1
NADOVER (100-1): 2m4f/2m5f specialist, yet to win a race worth more than £10,000 to the winner, trying new trip, likely to be pulled up if he does not fall first. 1
BLACK APALACHI (40-1): Not won beyond 3m or since Christmas 2005, tailed off in 2006 Irish National and has shown he lacks stamina for this. 1
PHILSON RUN (25-1): Solid performer in 'marathons', 4th in this last year, won Midlands National in 2005, in-form and age no barrier, 4
DUN DOIRE (25-1): Fancied when pulled up in last year's race, 2006 Cheltenham Festival winner (3m1f), stamina has to be taken on trust. 3
RESERVES
ARDAGHEY (66-1): Happiest around 3m1f, out of form since October, poor record in strongly-run races, little going for him. 1
JOES EDGE (33-1): Pulled up lame in last year's race for which he was 8-1 co-favourite, far from ideal preparation, needs to improve to have any hope. 2
5 stars: Comply Or Die
4 stars: Simon, Butlers Cabin, Slim Pickings, Snowy Morning. Bewleys Berry, McKelvey, Point Barrow, D'Argent, Cloudy Lane, Mon Mome, Philson Run..
3 stars: Knowhere, Mr Pointment, Fundamentalist, Chelsea Harbour, Vodka Bleu, Joaaci, Kelami, Dun Doire.
2 stars: Turko, Madison Du Berlais, Opera Mundi, L'Ami, Joes Edge.
1 star: Hedgehunter, Hi Cloy, Iron Man, Contraband, Cornish Sett, No Full, Baily Breeze, Bob Hall, King Johns Castle, Naunton Brook, Tumbling Dice, Backbeat, Idle Talk, Milan Deux Mille, Nadover, Black Apalachi, Ardaghey.