It’s a real shame I am not riding in the Randox Health Grand National – the first time I haven’t ridden in it since my first ride in 2008. That’s nine consecutive Nationals so I've had a good run of it, but it’s still disappointing.

I was due to be ride Pendra, who I rode last year to finish 13th, but unfortunately he had a little niggle and got pulled out.

That’s the way it goes sometimes, but I’ll still be watching on with interest.

It’s a magical race. I loved to watch it when I was young. All the thrills, spills and drama drew me in.

Everyone in Ireland watches the Grand National. When you want to be a Jumps jockey as a kid, then you do start to dream about riding in the National.

I completed on my first and last rides, but in between didn’t go as well. They’re a lot of letters against my name!

I remember my first ride on Mon Mome and Brian Harding talked me around during the race and I ended up finishing tenth.

I loved the whole experience.

Then the following year I picked the wrong one when Mon Mome won.

It was somewhat frustrating at the time but now that I am older and hopefully a bit wiser who knows how I would have got on. The way the National goes, you run it 10 or 12 times, you’ll get 10 or 12 different results. And I was delighted for Liam Treadwell, who is a good friend of mine, and obviously Venetia Williams and everyone at the yard.

As for tactics, I like to go down the middle so you have options of switching in and out, but that said you have to ride your horse the way it likes to be ridden and ideally you’d like a horse to be ridden up there. There are tactics involved but obviously they are very much subject to change as everything doesn’t always go your way.

It can be quite tense in the weighing room before but it’s also fun as no-one goes out there thinking they are going to win the National, given so much can go wrong.

If I could ride one this year, I guess it would be More Of That. You need a class horse to win the National in my eyes. I don’t think you can win it with a run-of-the-mill handicapper these days and More Of That has done it at the very highest level, having won the World Hurdle three years ago.

I’ve ridden him twice this season, including last time when sixth in the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup.

He ran a nice race at Cheltenham; he stayed on and I’d be hopeful he will last the trip and there’s no reason why he won’t take to the fences either. I’d also obviously like him to win for Jonjo O’Neill, who I have struck up a really good association with this season.

I’ve got three rides today, kicking off with Forthefunofit in the Gaskells Handicap Hurdle. He’s really appreciated going back over hurdles after a spell over fences and he's won his last two. This is big step up but he’s earned the right to be there and he will have a fair chance.

Chelsea Flyer runs in the Betway Mersey Novices' Hurdle. I rode him to win at Doncaster last time and Emma Lavelle has kept him back for this race. He has a bit to find on form but I’m looking forward to finding out whether he’s up this level. He’s very straightforward and a very, very nice horse.

Taquin Du Seuil runs in the Ryanair Stayers Liverpool Hurdle. He ran a cracking race at the Festival to finish second in the Coral Cup and clearly liked being back over hurdles. He seems equally at home over both, having earlier in the season won the BetVictor Gold Cup at The Open.

He might have a bit to find on form figures, but he does have that touch of class and is in great form. He’s an interesting one.

Aidan is sponsored by Racing UK and to celebrate the Randox Health Grand National you can take up Racing UK’s best ever offer, join the UK’s leading horse racing channel today and get the next 12 months at just £10 per month instead of £24.98! Offer ends at midday. Visit racinguk.com/gn2017 for more.