Edge Expected To Be All The Rage

Bookmakers believe Joes Edge could go off as one of the shortest-priced favourites in Grand National history when he contests tomorrow's John Smith's-sponsored showpiece.

Ferdy Murphy's Cheltenham Festival winner looks set to get his ideal ground conditions at Aintree and has just 10st 2lb to carry in his bid to better last year's seventh.

He is currently 8-1 favourite with Coral but spokesman David Stevens said: 'Not only will Joes Edge start favourite for the big race, he could even be sent off as one of the best-backed horses in National history.'

Turnover is expected to smash records on the big day, with Coral anticipating as much as £275 million to change hands.

Plenty of that interest is sure to surround Idle Talk, who will be maiden National runner for first-season trainer Donald McCain jnr, the son of ?Mr Aintree' Ginger McCain.

Idle Talk, a 16-1 shot, unseated his rider after being hampered at the fifth fence in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in his first race for the McCains since bought out of Tom George's yard by Trevor Hemmings.

'Before Red Rum won his second National, Brian Fletcher was knocked off him at the first fence in a three-mile chase at Haydock,' McCain snr told At The Races.

'He jumped round there and never missed a fence and finished in front. We got the race into him without the stress of being driven out by jockeys.

'The same thing applies to Idle Talk. He went to the last at Cheltenham upsides Kauto Star. He actually lengthened and attacked the fence going into it.

'We have only had him eight or nine weeks and are still learning about him, but having said that he is going there with a great chance.

'If you see him going out on the second circuit and getting into a rhythm he will definitely run a big race.'

(C) PA Sport