Rachael Blackmore's Grand National horse and prediction after scary Aintree fall

Rachel Blackmore is bidding to become the first woman to win two Grand Nationals when she rides Minella Indo in Saturday's showpiece race. Blackmore the famous £1m showpiece on Minella Times four years ago.

The 35-year-old then came home in third on Minella Indo, in what was her best finish outside of her victory year. Indo was at Cheltenham under Jack Kennedy.

Blackmore will be reunited with Indo on Saturday, with the duo rated at 33-1 by the bookmakers. She will have to recover from a difficult week though .

In the day's second race, Blackmore was riding the grey Willy De Houelle. But they took a heavy fall four hurdles out, with a shaken Blackmore having to be helped into an ambulance.

Tragically, Willy De Houelle could not be saved after suffering a fatal injury on the hurdles course. Aintree confirmed that the horse was attended to by expect veterinarians, but had to be put down.

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A spokesperson for Aintree Racecourse said: "Willy De Houelle was immediately attended by a team of expert veterinary professionals during the second race but sadly sustained an injury as a result of a fall.

"In their assessment, it was concluded that the best course of action for the horse’s welfare was for him to be humanely euthanised. Our heartfelt condolences are with his connections."

Despite that heavy fall, Blackmore is confident she can secure victory in the National. She said: “I'm really looking forward to riding Minella Indo in the Grand National again. He’s such a brilliant horse, he’s such a joy to have anything to do with, and he’s in great form.

“He gave me a brilliant spin in the race last year. He really took to the place, he jumped the fences well and we hit the front on the run-in. In the end, we couldn't contain I Am Maximus, but it was a massive run by Indo.

“It’s a top-class race. I Am Maximus is a big player again, even though he is 8lb higher than he was last year. Intense Raffles is last year’s Irish National winner, Stumptown won the Cross-Country Chase at Cheltenham last month, Nick Rockett won the Bobbyjo Chase, Perceval Legallois won the Paddy Power Chase.

“Also, Iroko is a young horse on the up, Minella Cocooner won the Bet365 Gold Cup last year, Grangeclare West finished second to Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup. There are so many horses with chances, and it should be a brilliant race. It always is.

"Minella Indo has only run twice since last year’s Grand National, but Henry is training him so that he will reach his peak again on Grand National day.

“He’s 12 years old now, but I rode him work there the other day, and he didn’t work like a 12-year-old. He’s a Gold Cup winner and he retains lots of his ability and all of his enthusiasm, and I’m hoping for a really big run from him again."