Racing: Conditions ripe for ladies' day

Grand National punters have begun to envisage an historic "Ladies' Day" bonanza in the big race at Aintree on Sunday (NZT).

Bookmakers William Hill have trimmed the odds against Forest Gunner and Strong Resolve to 10-1 as backers weighed up the female factor.

Forest Gunner is ridden by 33-year-old Carrie Ford who is bidding to be the first woman to win the National since its inception in 1839.

Strong Resolve is trained in Scotland by Lucinda Russell who is seeking to become only the second woman to capture the great race after Jenny Pitman, successful in 1983 and 1995.

Forest Gunner has won over the Aintree fences with Ford on board and has rarely been much over 14-1 in the betting, but Strong Resolve was as big as 25-1 two weeks ago.

A William Hill spokeswoman said:"Strong Resolve seems to be the gamble of the race so far. "

Ford is riding Forest Gunner for her husband Richard but she walked the track with Neale Doughty, who rode Hallo Dandy to victory in 1984.

Ford told At The Races TV channel: "He said it's best to walk it early and then have a couple of days to let what he tells me sink in, then just go to Aintree on Saturday but don't go near the track.

"Go in the weighing room and just concentrate and keep focused. "

She added: "We've tried to enjoy the build-up because it is rather special to be part of the big race. Come Saturday it could go really well or I could be on the floor at the first. "

Irish raider Hedgehunter is the 8-1 favourite, followed by last year's winner Amberleigh House on 9-1 with Forest Gunner and Strong Resolve bracketed at 10-1 with Clan Royal, the 2004 runner-up.

The Grand National start-time has been put back 25 minutes to accommodate TV coverage of the wedding of Britain's Prince Charles to Camilla Parker Bowles and bookmakers are anticipating a late surge of backers opting for Clan Royal or Royal Auclair, on offer at present at 33-1.

Conditions at Aintree have improved with the ground drying out slightly.

Clerk of the course Andrew Tulloch described the Aintree turf as "in top order" and changed the official going on the national course to good to soft.

Le Coudray is the topweight. The 11-year-old, trained in Ireland by Christy Roche, is left carrying 11st 12lb (75.5kg) as the weights have been raised 3lb following the expected absence of Grey Abbey and Sir Rembrandt.

First Gold is next in the handicap on 11st 11lb, trained by Francois Doumen.

Martin Pipe withdrew Jurancon II and Venn Ottery, but still has a strong team. He has four horses guaranteed a run - last year's third Lord Atterbury, It Takes Times, Iznogoud and Polar Red.

Horses ridden by women don't win Grand Nationals, says Ginger McCain, trainer of Amberleigh House and the famous Red Rum, three times triumphant in the 1970s.

Women have raced the Grand National before, but none has realistically stood as good a chance as Carrie Ford on Forest Gunner, whose Aintree claims are firmly in the form book after a series of eye-catching performances.

Since Charlotte Brew became the first woman to ride in the race, on a 200-1 rank outsider in 1977, there have been 21 other attempts by women.

Only two have completed the 7.2km marathon with its 30 fences, Rosemary Henderson recording the best finish with fifth place on 100-1 shot Fiddlers Pike in 1994.

Veteran McCain, a near neighbour and friend of the Fords, was typically forthright when asked about Carrie's chances.

The 74-year-old declared: "Carrie's a grand lass but she is a 'broodmare' now. Having kids doesn't get you fit to ride Grand Nationals."

Carrie, who raced to victory in last year's Foxhunters' Chase over the National fences just 10 weeks after giving birth to her daughter, is good humoured.

"Ginger is a great guy. It's very, very like him to say that. But I can understand people who don't know him thinking it's outrageous."