One trainer, jockey, horse and race to watch at the Grand National meeting

Trainer

This will be the final Grand National meeting for Colin Tizzard as a trainer before he hands over his licence to son Joe, and he looks to have some quality horses in his team that could provide him with final big-race successes.

Tizzard could begin the meeting with a bang courtesy of Eldorado Allen, who bids for a first Grade 1 success in the opening Manifesto Novices' Chase (1.45) after finishing a distant runner-up behind Shishkin in the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival last time.

Gold Cup fourth Native River will also bid for another emotional top-level victory and is well-fancied in the betting to land the Betway Bowl (2.50), in which he will be ridden by Jonjo O'Neill Jr following Richard Johnson's retirement.

Native River and Richard Johnson gallop away from Sandown's final fence in the Cotswold ChaseCredit: Edward Whitaker

He is double-handed with two leading fancies in the Mildmay Novices' Chase (2.50) on Friday in Broadway Novices' Chase second and third Fiddlerontheroof and The Big Breakaway, while Albert Bartlett second Oscar Elite will contest the Sefton Novices' Hurdle (4.40).

While he does not pose as strong a hand on the final day of the meeting, he could have a live outsider contender in the Randox Grand National (5.15) with Mister Malarky, who has been quietly supported to give Tizzard a fantastic send-off in the greatest steeplechase.

Jockey

It has been all about the jockeys' championship for Harry Skelton recently but with a brief hiatus in terms of quantity of winners in the epic title battle between him and Brian Hughes, he heads to Merseyside with a quality book of rides across the three days.

Skelton sits just one winner behind Hughes on 133 and has four strong chances on Thursday to close or surpass the reigning champion, with Protektorat (1.45) and Champion Bumper third Elle Est Belle (5.15) rating his standout rides in the Manifesto Novices' Chase and Grade 2 mares' bumper respectively.

Protektorat: good ride for Harry SkeltonCredit: Edward Whitaker

His four mounts on Friday include Third Time Lucky in the Top Novices' Hurdle (2.20), before he gets the leg up aboard Kauto Star Novices' Chase winner Shan Blue in a high-quality Mildmay Novices' Chase (2.50) half an hour later.

Mersey Novices' Hurdle (2.20) favourite My Drogo and Roksana in the Ryanair Stayers' Hurdle (3.35) look his best mounts on Saturday in what could still be a game-changing three days in Skelton's quest for a first jockeys' championship title.

Horse

The Randox Health Grand National (5.15) has revolved around favourite Cloth Cap throughout most of the jumps season and he remains by himself at the top of a market.

The nine-year-old has already enjoyed a lucrative season so far, having scorched to victory in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury in November before cementing his position as the leading hope for the marathon showpiece with an easy success at Kelso last month.

Cloth Cap: favourite for the Grand NationalCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

A general 4-1 shot who is technically a stone well-in, Cloth Cap represents connections that are no strangers to National success, with trainer Jonjo O'Neill winning the race in 2010 with Don't Push It.

His owner Trevor Hemmings is synonymous with the Grand National having won it three times with Hedgehunter (2005), Ballabriggs (2011) and Many Clouds (2015).

Race

Despite the vast array of quality on show across the meeting, it is all about one race on Saturday – the Randox Grand National (5.15).

It remains the world's most famous race and the biggest betting contest of the year, despite the sad absence of crowds this year.

Cloth Cap is just one of 40 runners set to tackle the unique National fences over the 4m2½f trip.

Kimberlite Candy: a live player in the Grand NationalCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

The likes of Kimberlite Candy, Any Second Now, Burrows Saint and Welsh Grand National hero Secret Reprieve – whose connections are sweating on him making the final field – all feature prominently in the betting, as well as classy duo The Storyteller and Bristol De Mai.

Excitement is building towards Saturday's showpiece despite dual winner Tiger Roll bypassing the event. The Grand National remains the greatest spectacle and test for a jumps racehorse.

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