A Cotswold trainer is excited for the culmination of a "roller-coaster" journey at today’s Randox Grand National.

Chipping Norton-based Charlie Longsdon is hoping that Snow Leopardess could prove to be a winner at Aintree.

The grey mare has come through injuries and a birth but is now one of the favourites, with the race set to get underway at 5:15pm.

Longsdon said: “We’ve been on a massive roller-coaster with her the whole way through. When she got her leg injuries and went to be put in foal by Sir Percy, I honestly thought her racing career was over.

“Very few people bring a horse back after having a foal. I don’t know why, but they always say they are never the same.

“I thought that, but my owner-breeder (Marietta Fox-Pitt) never thought that. Bringing her back was a massive thing and I know other people have had similar ideas since.

“She has brought us through huge highs and lows and emotions. She has won in France, in Ireland and in England. There is a hell of a thing behind her. She is that special to us.

“She is the potential ‘housewives’ choice’ as there is that story and that excitement around her.”

Snow Leopardess’ fascinating backstory coupled with a fine form, coming into the Grand National having won her last three, has seen the mare’s odds tumble.

She is also hoping to become just the fourth grey to win the race, after Neptune Collonges (2012), Nicolaus Silver (1961) and The Lamb (1868 and 1871).

Longsdon has no concerns about her ability to finish off a race, but does have doubts over her ability to handle the start.

He added: He said: “I’ve got no issues with her stamina whatsoever. Yes, it looked like she was tying up in the Becher Chase, but that is because she had been in front for two and a half miles into a driving headwind and driving rain.

“The jockey (Aidan Coleman) said at the time, ‘I would have been gutted if we had got beaten as I had plenty left in the tank but she just got lonely’, so I’ve got no problems with the trip at all. She will relish the trip.

“My only worry is the speed at the start and is she quick enough to get into a nice, handy, prominent position?

“I won’t give any instructions to Aidan as he knows her inside out. I will say get her into a nice rhythm and enjoy it.

“It’s going to be a big day, isn’t it, with plenty of people watching, but she’s run at Cheltenham before and she was absolutely fine then.

“We’ll take her to the paddock lateish, it’s the way she is – she’s very relaxed at home but on the racecourse you can see at the start she jig-jogs around and is a bit like a rocking horse. But that’s fine, it’s normal for her.”