McCOY PICKS BLOWING WIND

Tony McCoy has elected to partner Blowing Wind in the Martell Grand National on Saturday.

The champion jockey had the choice of Martin Pipe`s 10 runners in the Aintree spectacular but following heavy rain he decided to pick Blowing Wind.

The eight-year-old has won at Doncaster and Sandown this season and on the last-named occasion he handled heavy going well to beat Get Real by three and a half lengths.

'I had a good win on him at Doncaster and then he won well at Sandown (ridden by Rodi Greene) on the ground,' commented McCoy.

One of the horses he has discarded is Northern Starlight on whom McCoy won last year`s John Hughes Chase.

And the rider added: 'I love the horse but I can`t ride him - not in this ground. It would be too hard work for him.'

On hearing the news William Hill immediately halved Blowing Wind`s odds to 20-1 from 40-1.

Jockeys have also been decided for the rest of Pipe`s record-breaking 10-strong team.

Rodi Greene will partner Tresor de Mai with David Casey aboard Strong Tel, Kieran Kelly on Dark Stranger and Shay Barry set for Moondigua.

Chris Maude has the mount on Exit Swinger, Rupert Wakley is on You`re Agoodun, Rodney Farrant rides Kaki Crazy and Jim Crowley is aboard Art Prince.

Irish jockey Kieran Kelly has been booked to ride last year`s beaten favourite Dark Stranger.

It will be the 21-year-old`s first ride in England.

Kelly is attached to Dessie Hughes` Co Kildare stable and only lost his claim a few weeks ago.

He said: 'It is brilliant to get a ride in the Grand National and I am really looking forward to it.

'I don`t really know how I got the ride, but my boss is a good friend of Dark Stranger`s owner Terry Neill and I expect that was how it happened.'

In other jockey news Mister One`s trainer Colin Tizzard has booked amateur Les Jefford to partner his runner.

And Adrian Maguire has decided to ride Paddy`s Return with trainer Ferdy Murphy`s other runner Addington Boy becoming the mount of JP McNamara.

Murphy said: 'It was in the balance up to the last minute but as soon as it rained that is what swayed him.'

Edmond is proving popular in the betting market for the big race.

Henry Daly`s charge has been cut to 10-1 from 16-1 by Ladbrokes, to 12-1 from 20-1 by Coral and to 11-1 from 20-1 by William Hill.

Coral bet: 7-1 Mely Moss, 9-1 Papillon, 10-1 Beau, 12-1 Edmond, 14-1 Moral Support, Dark Stranger, Smarty, 16-1 Earthmover, Inn At The Top, Noble Lord, 20-1 Blowing Wind, 22-1 The Last Fling, 25-1 Paddy`s Return, Northern Starlight, 28-1 Addington Boy, Djeddah, Strong Tel, 33-1 General Wolfe, 40-1 bar.

Ladbrokes: 7-1 Papillon, 9-1 Mely Moss, 10-1 Edmond, 12-1 Beau, 14-1 Earthmover, 16-1 Dark Stranger, Inn At The Top, Moral Support, Noble Lord, Smarty, 20-1 Addington Boy, The Last Fling, 25-1 Blowing Wind, Paddy`s Return, Strong Tel, 33-1 Brave Highlander, Djeddah, Inis Cara, Red Marauder, Village King, You`re Agoodun, 40-1 bar.

Tote bet: 13-2 Mely Moss, 11-1 Beau, Edmond, Papillon, 12-1 Moral Support, 14-1 Inn At The Top, 16-1 Earthmover, 20-1 Blowing Wind, Dark Stranger, Noble Lord, Paddy`s Return, Red Marauder, Smarty, 25-1 Addington Boy, Northern Starlight, The Last Fling, 28-1 Strong Tel, 33-1 Brave Highlander, Exit Swinger, You`re Agoodun, 40-1 bar.

William Hill bet: 8-1 Papillon, 9-1 Mely Moss, 10-1 Beau, 11-1 Edmond, 12-1 Earthmover, Moral Support, 16-1 Inn At The Top, 20-1 Blowing Wind, Smarty, 22-1 Noble Lord, 25-1 Dark Stranger, Paddy`s Return, 28-1 Addington Boy, Djeddah, Northern Starlight, The Last Fling, 33-1 Red Marauder, Village King, Strong Tel, 40-1 bar.