There's an upset in the offing in the 2018 Randox Health Grand National at Aintree today — I JUST KNOW!

Five years ago, Sue and Harvey Smith, the husband-and-wife training team based at High Eldwick in West Yorkshire, saddled Auroras Encore to a 66-1 shock in the world’s greatest steeplechase.

And the pair have another exciting candidate in up-and-coming stayer I Just Know.

The eight-year-old was bought to tackle steeplechases over a distance of ground, so it’s no surprise that he was no great shakes as a hurdler.

But I Just Know showed plenty of promise for the future when tackling the larger obstacles last winter, landing handicap chases at Hexham, Doncaster and Catterick Bridge from his seven outings.

A general view of Horses approaching the Chair Jump infront of the main stands (
Image:
REX/Shutterstock)
In front of the main stand (
Image:
PA)

This season, the gelded son of Robin Des Pres - a stallion who imparts stamina into his offspring – has continued his progress.

After two runs at Carlisle in October and November, I Just Know stepped up to three miles and six furlongs for the North Yorkshire Grand National at Catterick two months later. And it was there that he showed his potential this afternoon’s test.

Racing at the head of affairs, my selection jumped gave an assured round of jumping and powered up the home straight to score by 16 lengths.

The Smiths then gave I Just Know a spin over hurdles - he finished second at Uttoxeter four Saturdays ago – to make sure he strips at his fittest today.

I Just Know (
Image:
RACINGFOTOS.COM)

The Yorkshire challenger is a stone higher in the weights as a result of his Catterick success, but has plenty of
improvement in the tank and doesn’t look overburdened with 10st 7lb.

The ability to jump and stay are the twin attributes of every National victory.

Not only does I Just Know, whose jockey Danny Cook chose to be a jockey over a career in the Army, soar over his fences with chutzpah, but he promises to relish every last yard of the four miles, two and a half furlongs on rain-soaked terrain.

Sue and Harvey Smith know how to secure success - as Auroras Encore showed (
Image:
PA)
Danny Cook will once more lead the charge on I Just Know (
Image:
RACINGFOTOS.COM)

In a typically open race, Anibale Fly, Blaklion, Tiger Roll and Total Recall are the four horses rubbing shoulders at the head of the betting.

Each one of the quartet is feared, but these days it pays beyond the National favourite.

After Scotland’s triumph with One For Arthur 12 months ago, Seeyouatmidnight and Captain Redbeard form a two-strong raiding party from north of the border and former, third in the 2016 Scottish National, is greatly respected.

There’s a strong media interest in the three female jockeys - Bryony Frost (Milansbar), Katie Walsh (Baie Des Iles) and Rachael Blackmore (Alpha Des Obeaux) – attempting to make history as the Grand National heroine.

A time for history? (
Image:
REX/Shutterstock)

Preference is for Milansbar, partnered by Frost to win a big pot at Warwick in January and a player despite a busy campaign.

Regal Encore is quirky but enters calculations on his eighth placing in 2017, while, at bigger odds, Final Nudge took the bronze in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow in January and is no
forlorn hope for each-way money.

NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3-4

1 I JUST KNOW
2 SEEYOUATMIDNIGHT
3 FINAL NUDGE
4 ANIBALE FLY