Grand National special NATIONAL Trainer Lucinda Russell recalls One for Arthur win and shares her hopes for Corach Rambler FREE £2SHOP BET

The excitement is ramping up for Grand National Day, where we’ll see the latest chapter of racing history unfold. But who’ll write their name into the race’s rich history? We’ve teamed up the meeting’s official betting partner William Hill to give you a £2 free bet to place in-shop on the day itself.

Here are some Grand National contenders: Noble Yeats is looking to follow Red Rum and Tiger Roll in successfully defending his crown after winning at 50/1 last year. Corach Rambler is a dual-cheltenham Festival winner and is trained by Lucinda Russell who won the Grand National with One For Arthur in 2017. Any Second Now might be 11 but has placed in the last two renewals. Willie Mullins won the Grand National in 2005 with Hedgehunter.

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Just the other week there Lucinda Russell recalled a trip down to the Thistle Hotel in Milnathort.

Still proudly propped up at the bar is a Tennent’s beer tap installed to mark One for Arthur’s Grand National triumph back in 2017.

Now, six years on, top trainer Lucinda is picturing and dreaming of Corach Rambler’s name also taking pride of place in the local watering hole.

Kinross-shire based nine- year- old Corach Rambler, as you will know by now, is favourite for the world’s greatest steeplechase tomorrow.

“We went down for a drink in the pub (Thistle Hotel) the other day and, when Arthur won, Tennent’s made him a beer tap,” Lucinda recalls. “That is still there.

“It would be lovely if there was one beside it. A Corach Rambler cider.”

If Lucinda had needed any evidence as to how much her yard was being noticed by locals, the reception following One for Arthur’s win – beer tap aside – provided it.

“You win the National and are getting pulled from press to press,” she reflects to that glorious day six years ago. “Then someone says: ‘When is the homecoming? The party tomorrow? When the horse arrived back at the stable there was to be a big video, film and all the press.

“I wasn’t ready for that at all so phoned Vicki at the Grouse and Claret saying ‘we need to have a party tomorrow’.

“I remember driving back up the road and it was really dark. Scu (Peter Scudamore) and I were saying we’ve won the National and we have a homecoming tomorrow.

“But what happens if nobody turns up? What if nobody has noticed or backed him?

“You get yourself in such a small world. What if nobody in Milnathort knows?

“We came along at 10 o’clock and there were loads of people. It was emotional and made me cry. I didn’t appreciate how much support we had.

“Since then, it has just got even better. I think, generally, people are more into community now – trying to be kind to people.”

Winning the Grand National will change your life, people had said to Lucinda. She didn’t quite believe them but has a differing opinion now. “I was absolutely wrong,” she laughed. “Everything changed.

“My self-confidence got better and it pulled everyone together as a team.

“We have 50 people who work here – quite a big operation – and it can become quite spread out. But after Arthur everyone became really close and that has continued.

Tennent’s put up a beer tap for Arthur and it would be lovely if we could have a Corach Rambler cider tap alongside it