IT might be more common among the Nomads wandering the desert but, in a corner of County Durham, there has been a rain-dance going on this week.

Richard Guest might be as down to earth as they come but, after watching the heavens open at his request once before, the Brancepeth trainer is holding out hope for a bit of divine intervention again this morning.

Three years ago, Guest was aboard the mud-loving Red Marauder as incessant rain turned Aintree's Grand National course into a quagmire.

The four-and-a-half-mile marathon is always a stamina test but, on that occasion, it wasn't so much survival of the fittest as simply last horse standing.

Red Marauder was one of just four mounts to go the distance and, after one of the most controversial races of recent times, Guest eventually coaxed him to a memorable win.

Few would want conditions to be as testing again this afternoon but, after taking up his trainer's licence at the start of last year, Guest has spent this week praying for every drop of rain possible.

He will saddle Tyneandthyneagain in this year's renewal after pulling Red Striker out of the starting line-up yesterday and, with his mount coming from the same mould as Red Marauder, would love to see Aintree's lush turf turned into a mudbath once again.

"I don't think there's much chance of that happening," said Guest. "I think that was just a one-off because the amount of rain that came down that year was incredible.

"But if things are anything like that at all then I think he'll have a great chance.

"There's been a bit of rain this week but the ground's basically good and it's just not really going to be testing enough for Red Striker.

"Ideally I wouldn't have wanted the ground to be any better than soft for either of them, because they both like things to be cutting up beneath their feet.

"Tyneandthyneagain's preparations have been spot on, but a lot of it comes down to luck at this stage in terms of the going and the conditions.

"He's well weighted at ten stone eight and I'm expecting a big run from him. But, obviously, how big could depend on what happens before the off."

Red Marauder's victory provided a throwback to the sepia-tinged images of the Nationals of yesteryear as he bravely battled against both the conditions and his opponents.

Guest's mount was never the safest jumper in the world - in fact the jockey himself admitted it was probably the worst ever jumping performance from a National winner - but he possessed spirit and stamina in bucketloads.

The jockey also won the 1989 Champion Hurdle aboard Beech Road, but crossing the winning line at Aintree remains the greatest moment of his racing career.

"You have the world as your stage when you win the Grand National," said Guest. "Winning at Cheltenham was fantastic, but it's nothing compared with winning the National.

"I still remember the race vividly. So much seemed to be happening around me, but it was like the horse was in a world of his own.

"I knew I was going to win from a fair way out and I think that helped me take it all in.

"It's like nothing else in the world and, if you're involved in horseracing, it's everything you've ever dreamed of."

There will be no repeat performance for Guest this afternoon as, with two horses originally declared in the race, the Jockey Club refused to grant him permission to partner Red Striker against another horse from his yard.

Tyneandthyneagain, who will be partnered by Henry Oliver, underlined his credentials when winning Newcastle's Tote Eider Chase over four miles and one furlong last month.

If he were to be successful this afternoon, Guest would become the first person to train and ride a Grand National winner since Fred Winter achieved the same double in the 1960s.

And, while he would rather be in the saddle than watching from the stand, Guest admits that would eclipse even his 2001 success.

"I think training a Grand National winner would probably mean even more," he said.

"I was actually the trainer of Red Marauder in everything but name. Norman Mason had me as a private trainer to the horse and I oversaw his preparations for Aintree.

" But to have a winner in my own name would be absolutely fantastic. It's much harder to be a trainer than a jockey and it would mean so much to win the race in that way.

"I'll never forget what happened with Red Marauder - but I'd like to think I had something else to remember by this weekend."