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/ Richard Dunwoody / 06 April 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Richard Dunwoody is sweet on the chances of last year's winner Don't Push It
"A clever horse, who has powers of preservation like Miinnehoma – who wasn’t the biggest, but who was outstanding on his feet and who used himself very well – will always give you a chance."
Richard Dunwoody knows how to win a National - he came home ahead of the field twice - and here tells us what makes a good horse for the Aintree special
Both my Grand National winners, West Tip and Miinnehoma, had similar traits. Both had reasonable prep races and both horses were intelligent, blessed with an ability to get themselves out of trouble and remain on their feet.
Obviously, I have fond memories of my two National victories. I was very young when West Tip won at Aintree and didn't fully realise the enormity of it.
Miinnehoma provided me with one of my greatest highlights, because his success was so unexpected. It came at a stage in my career when I was better able to appreciate it.
I've always liked a horse to have one or two runs over fences beforehand. Miinnehoma, for example, won a handicap at Newbury and then was a fair seventh in the Gold Cup before winning in 1994, and West Tip had run well in the Ritz Club Handicap at Cheltenham - a race he had won the year prior to his Aintree success in 1986.
I always liked to get into a rhythm and stay clear of trouble. Even though the top of the handicap is compressed these days in a bid to attract the better-class chasers, there are still some horses you'd want to avoid tracking.
Obviously, you need a horse who will jump and stay the marathon trip. But a clever horse, who has powers of preservation like Miinnehoma - who wasn't the biggest, but who was outstanding on his feet and who used himself very well - will always give you a chance.
Trainers do things a little differently now. A good few horses will not run over fences before they reach Aintree in a bid to preserve their handicap mark.
Jonjo O'Neill has employed this tactic with last year's winner Don't Push It, who has had four runs over hurdles since winning over half a million for connections in last year's renewal (when I first won it, the race was worth £60,000!).
Like West Tip, he seems to come right at this time of year and thrives with the sun on his back. He seems to relish Liverpool and despite his big weight, I think AP's mount will go well again.
Romilly Evans talks to colourful leading owner, Michael Buckley, about his career and hopes for Aintree...
Regular Betting.Betfair blogger Simon Rowlands give you a couple of clues as to how to make money on the Grand National without backing the winner......
Reputations count for nothing when it comes to the Grand National - just ask Tony McCoy, who'd endured some wretched luck prior to Don't Push It's memorable win in last year's renewal of the Aintree showpiece. Now McCoy has finally broken his duck, focus may well turn instead to champion trainer Paul Nicholls....
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