Grand National Sentiment is a dodgy currency to trade in the world's most demanding race but there could be quite a lot of the stuff floating about Aintree this afternoon if Clan Royal can fulfil his destiny and win the John Smith's Grand National.
The 2004 runner-up, who was so dramatically carried out of the race when leading last year, is almost certain to start favourite to finally make it third time lucky in the great race.
Since the National generates up to €400 million in betting, with €60 million in Ireland alone, that is no mean responsibility for Clan Royal's jockey Tony McCoy. The weight of money also means a short price and the practice of trading at 5 to 1 or even less when faced with the famous 30-fence marathon is not normally one to be encouraged.
The counter-arguments however are many and persuasive. McCoy after all is no normal jockey and if willpower alone can get a horse home in front, then Clan Royal is already feeling the wash down hose.
McCoy's determination to win the one big pot that has eluded him in his illustrious career to date is now bordering on the obsessive. Ten rides have yielded just a pair of third placings and the champion jockey was inconsolable last year after a loose horse ruined a very real chance at Becher's second time round.
If there is one consolation however, and McCoy is unlikely to look at it like that, it is that his National record is peerless compared to Jonjo O'Neill's. Not once did the Corkman finish the course in his riding career. As a trainer the great race has been kinder, but not kind enough to actually provide a winner. The vital support of owner JP McManus, however, can prove the vital winning link for the two great horsemen.
One wonders how much the most famous currency trader of all would give to finally end a 25-year National obsession. The flint-hard business mind has been poring over the National since his first runner, Deep Gale in 1982, fell at the very first fence.
Today he throws three other horses at the race including the French-trained Innox who would be a leading contender in his own right if Clan Royal wasn't such a track specialist.
It's sometimes overlooked but the ex-Arthur Moore trained horse won the 2003 Topham and the following season's Becher Chase before bad luck took a hand. The argument against Clan Royal now is that he races too free to get home but that wasn't a factor two years ago and at 11 years of age he might just be cajoled into relaxing a bit more. Otherwise his credentials look impeccable.
On the back of clean sweeps of all the major prizes at Cheltenham, bookmakers are offering just 7 to 4 about one of the nine Irish runners winning and a rather cheeky 25 to 1 about a 1-2-3.
Hedgehunter is the defending champion and even with joint topweight of 11st 12lb looks to have first-class claims on the book of becoming the first since Red Rum (1973-74) to win back to back Nationals.
History though tells us that only Rummy in '74 has won with topweight since the second World War and there is also the suspicion that a blinding run in the Gold Cup may have taken the edge off Hedgehunter.
Garvivonnian, trained by Ned Mitchell in Limerick, would be something of a fairytale result but there is nothing fanciful about his chance having proved himself over the big fences last November.
The softer the ground the better for Garvivonnian and the same comment can apply to last year's Irish National winner Numbersixvalverde who is a great first National ride for the 20-year-old jockey, Niall "Slippers" Madden.
It's six years since Ted Walsh won with Papillon and he pitches in both Rince Ri and Jack High into today's race. The latter could go very well on his best form but those looking for an outsider to give them a big run could do worse than Sir Oj.
His ability to last out the marathon trip has to be taken on trust and he would not relish very soft ground. However, a tumble at Cheltenham last time out notwithstanding, Sir Oj is usually a very good jumper and both Noel Meade and Paul Carberry have suspected for some time he could be ideal for the National.
There is no "if" regarding Clan Royal's ability to act around here, however, and given the usual quota of luck in running, he can reward a whole year of planning and care.
If he does do it, then Messrs McCoy and McManus, who usually play their cards very close to their chests, might succumb to the moment in a very big way. Quite appropriate really for the biggest race of the year.
Forecast
1 - Clan Royal
2 - Jack High
3 - Ross Comm
4 - Sir Oj
