IT didn’t look I was going to be riding in the Randox Health Grand National after Ms Parfois was ruled out earlier in the week.

But the defection of Mall Dini because of a leg injury, meant that Just A Par, who I was lined up to ride, took his place, being first reserve.

I might not have had any luck in the race, but I’ll always want to be part of it.

This will be my 12th ride in the National and it’s always special walking out to the paddock before the race. It’s a huge institution when everyone becomes a racing fan for the day.

Nearly 10 million people will be watching on ITV, and I read that the race will be televised live in more than 130 countries. The appeal of the race has possibly never been greater.

As for Just A Par, he has some experience of the fences, having jumped them four times, including when 15th and 14th in the 2016 and 2017 races.

That experience is so important in this race and gives you more confidence as a jockey, although as we know anything can happen in the Grand National.

He’s got some top-class form in the book, albeit a while back now, having won and finished a short-head second in the Bet365 Chase at Sandown for two years running.

He’s 100-1 so I’m not making any bold statements about his chance, but I think he’ll give me a great spin.

I’d love to be riding Tiger Roll. There’s no point trying to be clever about finding the winner of the race; he looks to have a great chance.

I half-joked before the Stayers’ Hurdle that I was glad Tiger Roll wasn’t running and therefore not a threat to Paisley Park, but the way he won the Cross-County Chase at the Festival, you’d think he could have been competitive in a number of races at Cheltenham.

He’s so versatile, having won a Triumph Hurdle, a National Hunt Chase and two Cross-Country races at the Festival, plus, of course, last year’s Grand National.

If I am not going to win it, it would be great to see Tiger Roll do it.

If you’re looking for a bit of each-way value then I quite like the Trevor Hemmings-owned pair of Vintage Clouds and Lake View Lad, who were second and third respectively in the Ultima Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. That’s great form going into this and they should run well.

I have two other rides on the card. The first is Flemcara in the Gaskells Handicap Hurdle.

I fancied him to run well at Cheltenham last time. He ran OK but the race didn’t really pan out the way we wanted. I do like him and I think he’s got a good each-way chance.

My other ride is Clondaw Westie, who runs in the Betway Handicap Chase.

He’s won five of his past eight starts, including a cosy enough win at Stratford last time. He’s bottom-weight and deserves his chance in this grade.

  • Aidan is sponsored by Racing TV, which is running a special offer for Saturday only. New and reinstating customers can join Racing TV for just £10 per month for 10 months. See racingtv.com/grandnational for more.