There will be some equine sibling rivalry when half-brothers Silviniaco Conti and Ucello Conti line up in the Crabbie's Grand National at Aintree on Saturday.
While Silviniaco Conti, a 10-year-old trained by Paul Nicholls, is well known on these shores thanks to his long list of successes, Ucello Conti is an unknown quantity.
Formerly trained in France by Guillaume Macaire, the eight-year-old has had three runs since being switched to Gordon Elliott's yard in County Meath.
Ucello Conti has earned his place in the National, which Elliott won with Silver Birch in 2007, thanks to two excellent placed efforts in the Paddy Power Handicap Chase at Leopardstown and the Thyestes Chase at Gowran.
Anthony Bromley, racing manager to owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, said: "Simon owned him in France. He was a smart three- and four-year-old over hurdles and fences for Guillaume Macaire.
"The last roll of the dice was to go to see if Gordon Elliott could rekindle him a bit"
"He lost his way and became disappointing, and the last roll of the dice was to go to see if Gordon Elliott could rekindle him a bit.
"Gordon had him over a year before he got him on the track. He's been a bit of a surprise package. He's come back to his good form as a youngster and has run two great races in Ireland's two biggest handicaps this winter.
"He clearly likes cut in the ground but we're not completely sure about him getting the extra distance of the National.
"He's a bit higher in the handicap over here than he is in Ireland and then meant he definitely got in the race. If he was off his Irish mark it would be touch and go if he got in.
"Daryl Jacob rides and this horse is a half-brother to Silviniaco Conti. Jacques Ricou took him wide last time to get him switched off because he wasn't switching off in the pack and probably overplayed it. He's got a chance."
Charlie Longsdon believes his runner, Pendra, has gone under the radar a little, having not had a race since December.
"He's got decent form in the book," said the Chipping Norton trainer. He's an unexposed horse and he seemed to jump National-style fences well when he went down to Lambourn the other day when Aidan Coleman schooled him.
"I'm not exactly sure who rides him. Obviously the JP McManus team have still to work out their jockeys and organise their final plans.
"I assume Barry (Geraghty) and Mark (Walsh) will have first and second choice."
The Last Samuri has been well supported to give Kim Bailey his second winner of the National, after Mr Frisk in 1990, and BetVictor cut him to 8-1 from 10-1 because of an unsettled weather forecast ahead of the meeting.
More than 30,000 British troops and personnel serving overseas will be able to enjoy Channel 4's coverage of the Grand National.
The arrangement between British Forces Broadcasting Service, Racecourse Media Group and Channel 4 means the Aintree spectacular will be broadcast over 16 time zones - including Afghanistan, Brunei, Germany, Gibraltar, Cyprus, Iraq, the Falklands and Canada as well as Royal Navy ships at sea.
The Investec Derby Festival and Royal Ascot are also set to be shown on British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS), which is part of the Services Sound and Vision Corporation (SSVC) - a charity funded by the Ministry of Defence.
Adam Hardwick, head of television SSVC BFBS, said: "The Crabbie's Grand National is not only at the centre of the racing calendar but is also at the heart of British life.
"Therefore it is vital that those away from home, on land or at sea, can share and enjoy all the thrills and excitement of experiencing this famous race live on television, with grateful thanks to our excellent relationship with Channel 4 and Racecourse Media Group."
