Racing by Tom O'Ryan MICK FITZGERALD, victorious on Rough Quest in 1996, can chalk up his second success in the Martell Grand National at Aintree tomorrow aboard Fiddling The Facts.

The Lambourn jockey is enjoying a truly outstanding campaign and, having landed the major honours at last month's Cheltenham Festival, when his clutch of winners included the Gold Cup on See More Business, he now looks set for another huge pay-day in this £420,000 showpiece.

Fiddling The Facts has yet to win a race this season, but has figured in the frame in all her four starts and has turned-in some excellent efforts in defeat.

Third in the Hennessy Gold Cup, this ultra-consistent mare has since finished runner-up in the Welsh National at Chepstow, the National Trial at Uttoxeter, and in the Green National Trial at Haydock.

In the latter event, she was beaten 13 lengths by Young Kenny, but faced an awesome task in trying to concede no less than 12lb to Peter Beaumont's hugely-talented stayer, who since gone on to win the Midlands National at Uttoxeter off a much higher mark.

Fiddling The Facts, trained by the in-form Nicky Henderson, has shown a definite preference in the past for soft ground. And, although the Aintree course had dried out in the past few days, she should not be inconvenienced, especially over this marathon distance. Priced at around 12-1, she makes stacks of appeal.

Double Thriller, the red-hot favourite, has emerged from the hunter chase ranks as a serious professional performer. Easy winner of his first two races this season, he was thrown-in at the deep end in last month's Cheltenham Gold Cup, but ran creditably to finish fourth, even though he was beaten more than 30 lengths.

With only 10st 8lb to carry, he has an obvious chance, but he will need to settle better than he did at Cheltenham to last out this trip at around 4-1, he offers no real value.

Richard Dunwoody, who this week became the most successful jump-jockey of all time, has already won two Nationals, and Call It A Day gives him a good chance of making it three.

David Nicholson's charge, winner of last year's Whitbread Gold Cup, chased home Young Kenny at Uttoxeter last time and looks to be coming to form at the right time. He should make the frame at the very least.

Suny Bay has finished second in the last two Nationals and produced a cracking performance 12 months ago to chase home Earth Summit. He is 10lb better off with that winner this time and is fancied to turn the tables. But he has failed to complete the course on his last two outings and his well-being has to be taken on trust.

Jenny Pitman, the 'Queen of Aintree', who retires at the end of the season, will have plenty of supporters as she saddles Nahthen Lad. But his 10-year-old is on along losing run and even the Pitman magic might not be enough to see him home in front.

Eudipe, Coome Hill and General Wolfe would all have strong claims on their best form, but they disappointed last time out.

Addington Boy, from the Middleton stable of Ferdy Murphy, finished fifth in the Gold Cup last month, but has not won a race for a long time.

Avro Anson, from Julie Camacho's Norton stable, finished sixth in the 1997 National, but has had a troubled preparation and is better on faster ground.

Punters looking for each-way value could do worse than consider outsider Bobbyjo from Ireland.

But this is far from a vintage National I fancy Fiddling The Facts to give Mick Fitzgerald plenty to smile about by coming home in front.

TOM O'RYAN'S GRAND NATIONAL FORECAST1 Fiddling The Facts (Nap)

2 Double Thriller

3 Call It A Day

4 Bobbyjo

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