by Tom O'Ryan, Racing Correspondent

TOM O'RYAN'S GRAND NATIONAL PICK

1. Rough Quest

2. Earth Summit

3. Dun Belle

4. Suny Bay

No horse has won more than one Grand National since the great triple-triumph hero Red Rum more than 20 years ago. But tomorrow at Aintree Rough Quest can write his name into the record books by repeating his 1996 success in the Martell-sponsored showpiece.

While so many horses in the field - including local hopes Avro Anson and Scotton Banks - will be inconvenienced by the rain-softened ground, Rough Quest will be in his element as he bids to turn back the clock.

His National success two years ago was achieved in quite emphatic style. Dropped out by Mick Fitzgerald he came sailing through on a tight rein at the final fence and needed only to be shaken up to convincingly beat the gallant Encore un Peu.

The clock has not stopped ticking since, and Rough Quest, now 12 years old, can be described as a veteran performer. That said, he has retained his form admirably well and finished a creditable third to See More Business in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day before uncharacteristically coming to grief at the 17th fence (still going well within himself) in last month's Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Trainer Terry Casey reports Rough Quest to be in the best of health and is optimistic that a second Grand National victory is within his grasp. He is surely the one they have all got to beat.

Suny Bay, runner-up to Lord Gyllene last year, will have plenty of supporters in his bid to go one better. But Charlie Brooks' grey, winner of the Hennessy Gold Cup earlier this season, had a rushed preparation for the Gold Cup, in which he finished fifth beaten nearly 20 lengths by the winner Cool Dawn.

Suny Bay, who carried only 10st 3lb in last year's National, is set to hump 12st. Even allowing for the view that this is a sub-standard National, he looks to have plenty to do under top weight.

Him Of Praise, a tough performer and a proven stayer, has progressed really well this season and has the services of top Irish jockey Charlie Swan.

Those who support Challenger du Luc will need to have nerves of steel. Vastly talented horse though he is, this gelding is also a most reluctant hero.

He has the ability to win if he takes to the unique Aintree fences, but he has the cunningness to down tools if he is not enjoying the task in hand.

Champion jockey Tony McCoy has the job of persuading him to put his best foot forward and I, for one, would not rule him out of rising to this challenge.

Richard Dunwoody, who has such a wonderful record at Aintree, and will be bidding for his third National triumph, has the mount on Samlee, a tough and consistent stayer, who is nevertheless 10lb out of the handicap.

Jenny Pitman's best chance of winning seems to lay with Nahthen Lad, a respectable ninth last year after meeting trouble in running.Earth Summit, winner of the Welsh National earlier in ths season, will relish the trip and the ground and has good each-way prospects.

For Avro Anson every drop of rain which has fallen on Aintree this week has lessened his chances of improving on his sixth-placed effort 12 months ago.

Now trained by Julie Camacho, who took over the licence at Norton's Star Cottage stables from her father Maurice on January 1, Avro Anson has been battling with the weather all season and, because of soft ground, has run in only two chases.

His latest appearance was in a Flat race at Doncaster last week in which he finished a creditable fourth. He has since been schooled over a specially-built Grand National-type fence on the Langton Wold gallops.

"The National has been his target all along," confirms Julie. "We are very happy with him. The horse is spot-on for the race, but the weather is our main worry.

"He just can't go on soft ground - he hates it - and it would be a waste of time running him if it comes up very soft."

Ground conditions also count against the former high-class Scotton Banks, Tim Easterby's first National runner.

"He's in great form at home, I couldn't be more pleased with him. But the ground is a problem" declares Easterby. "We are hoping it would be fast. He doesn't like it soft or sticky".

Stormtracker, my original fancy, is another who will be greatly inconvenienced by the going, but Ireland's Dun Belle, a mud-lover, will be in her element and is a tempting 25-1 in most lists.

Celtic Abbey, Brave Highlander and What A Hand are three other outsiders with chances of making the frame, but punters expecting a miracle should remember that only one real surprise, Royal Athlete's 40-1 victory in 1995, has occurred in the past decade!

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