After the tension of Cheltenham, although Aintree is still a big meeting and to have a winner there is a massive boost to anyone's season, it always seems to feel a little more relaxed in both the run-up and while at Aintree.
I've not got any runners on the first two days of the meeting but with a bit of luck Any Currency will get a run in the Grand National.
It would be my first runner in the race and it is the third season we have aimed him at the race but for the last two years our plans have been thwarted.
In 2011 a leg injury sustained over Christmas ended his season.
Last year we managed to get him to the race in one piece only to agonisingly lose out by one space as we were balloted out at the last stage.
It would be fantastic to know that he is in for definite on Monday at the final confirmation stage, but for that to happen he needs two or three horses to not confirm.
Otherwise it is another nervous few days before we declare on Thursday morning and we need to hope that connections of some of the other entries have decided to run them in the shorter Becher Chase on the Friday.
If he does get a run he will be partnered by our stable jockey Ian Popham, who rode him for the first time at Cheltenham recently where they were ninth in the cross-country race.
There often seems to be some sort of fairytale ending to the Grand National.
Regular readers will know that Ian (inset) has sustained two bad pelvic injuries over the last two seasons, putting him onto the sidelines, and only through huge drive, dedication and determination has Ian put this behind him.
Lesser determined people may have let similar injuries end their career.
It would be amazing if the fairytale ending was ours.
Our other runner will be Court In Session in the Legends Charity Race before the first race on the Saturday.
It isn't an official race but is very important for the Bob Champion Cancer Research Charity as it raises a huge amount for the charity.
Horses are all ridden by ex-jockeys who themselves rode the winner of at least one Grand National and it is a great crowd-puller at the beginning of the afternoon with plenty of familiar faces enjoying a more relaxed spin around Aintree – on the Flat!
We've been represented by Sky Calling in the race for the last two years and she was fourth last year so he'll be trying to improve on that.
Our chosen jockey will be confirmed in the next few days.
The weather isn't letting up much at the moment and, as ever, my team have done a superb job to repeatedly get into work on time and also work extra hard against the elements. We'd like some nice weather now, please!
The British Horseracing Authority kindly put on an extra fixture yesterday at Southwell.
It was a full card of bumper races (Flat races) on the all-weather surface specifically for horses that have run over hurdles and fences called 'Jumpers Bumpers'.
I have been keen to give some of my horses racecourse gallops but unable to do so, and so I jumped at the opportunity to give them a gallop and also try and win some prize money for my owners at the same time.
It's a great initiative and we managed to pick up a winner too – The Fox's Decree who outbattled his rivals to win under a great ride from Ian Popham and delight his owner – my wife Belinda!
I have no runners on Easter Sunday for a change so my family and I will be spending the day locally with friends.
They have organised an Easter Egg hunt for my sons Freddie and Harry which the boys are very excited about and it will be great to have a chance to unwind for a few hours.
The sleepless nights haven't started yet about the Grand National, probably because there is still a chance Any Currency won't get in, but I know that if he does get a chance then the pressure will be on, the nerves will begin and sleep will desert me!
I've not got any runners on the first two days of the meeting but with a bit of luck Any Currency will get a run in the Grand National.
It would be my first runner in the race and it is the third season we have aimed him at the race but for the last two years our plans have been thwarted.
In 2011 a leg injury sustained over Christmas ended his season.
Last year we managed to get him to the race in one piece only to agonisingly lose out by one space as we were balloted out at the last stage.
It would be fantastic to know that he is in for definite on Monday at the final confirmation stage, but for that to happen he needs two or three horses to not confirm.
Otherwise it is another nervous few days before we declare on Thursday morning and we need to hope that connections of some of the other entries have decided to run them in the shorter Becher Chase on the Friday.
If he does get a run he will be partnered by our stable jockey Ian Popham, who rode him for the first time at Cheltenham recently where they were ninth in the cross-country race.
There often seems to be some sort of fairytale ending to the Grand National.
Regular readers will know that Ian (inset) has sustained two bad pelvic injuries over the last two seasons, putting him onto the sidelines, and only through huge drive, dedication and determination has Ian put this behind him.
Lesser determined people may have let similar injuries end their career.
It would be amazing if the fairytale ending was ours.
Our other runner will be Court In Session in the Legends Charity Race before the first race on the Saturday.
It isn't an official race but is very important for the Bob Champion Cancer Research Charity as it raises a huge amount for the charity.
Horses are all ridden by ex-jockeys who themselves rode the winner of at least one Grand National and it is a great crowd-puller at the beginning of the afternoon with plenty of familiar faces enjoying a more relaxed spin around Aintree – on the Flat!
We've been represented by Sky Calling in the race for the last two years and she was fourth last year so he'll be trying to improve on that.
Our chosen jockey will be confirmed in the next few days.
The weather isn't letting up much at the moment and, as ever, my team have done a superb job to repeatedly get into work on time and also work extra hard against the elements. We'd like some nice weather now, please!
The British Horseracing Authority kindly put on an extra fixture yesterday at Southwell.
It was a full card of bumper races (Flat races) on the all-weather surface specifically for horses that have run over hurdles and fences called 'Jumpers Bumpers'.
I have been keen to give some of my horses racecourse gallops but unable to do so, and so I jumped at the opportunity to give them a gallop and also try and win some prize money for my owners at the same time.
It's a great initiative and we managed to pick up a winner too – The Fox's Decree who outbattled his rivals to win under a great ride from Ian Popham and delight his owner – my wife Belinda!
I have no runners on Easter Sunday for a change so my family and I will be spending the day locally with friends.
They have organised an Easter Egg hunt for my sons Freddie and Harry which the boys are very excited about and it will be great to have a chance to unwind for a few hours.
The sleepless nights haven't started yet about the Grand National, probably because there is still a chance Any Currency won't get in, but I know that if he does get a chance then the pressure will be on, the nerves will begin and sleep will desert me!