Tiger Roll will have to wait until 2021 to try and make history and join Red Rum as a three-time Grand National winner - but he could still be a virtual hero later today.
With the real thing cancelled amid the coronavirus pandemic that has seen all racing in Britain suspended until at least the end of April, the Virtual Grand National has captured the imagination, with profits from most bookmakers to be donated to NHS charities.
Irish bookmaker Boylesports has confirmed that it will be donating profits to Dublin's Mater Foundation.
To be screened in a special programme on ITV from 5pm on Saturday, the race promises to use the latest CGI technology and algorithms to produce the most accurate outcome possible.
Davy Russell would again have been the man in the saddle on Gordon Elliott's superstar at Aintree.
He said: "It's a great way of creating money for the NHS, it's great they are distributing the profits that way and it's pleasing to hear the NHS are going to benefit from it, so that's brilliant.
"It's tough times, there are a lot of people sitting at home and hopefully it will give them something to enjoy and watch."
On how he had been looking forward to Tiger Roll's history bid, Russell said: "He ran a blinder at Cheltenham, on ground that wouldn't have suited. Easysland that beat him there is no bad horse, either.
"The way the weather is at the moment the ground would have been perfect for him.
"There would have been any amount of dangers - Walk In The Mill right down at the bottom (of the weights), dangers everywhere. With Tiger having to carry so much weight there was always going to be something looking attractive in there."
One rider chasing a first National victory - even if it is a virtual one - is Richard Johnson. The multiple champion jockey partners Alpha Des Obeaux in the Tiger Roll colours.
He said: "In these times we are in it is hopefully a good bit of fun and if we can raise money for such a good cause as the NHS, it's got to be good for everybody. It's great to hear the bookmakers will give their winnings to charity.
"We're all very thankful for the NHS and the work they are doing. There is no more deserving cause at the moment.
"It's on at a great time, if people have had their walk or their stroll, hopefully it will get good support and I think we all understand at the moment the world is in a strange place and if we can have a bit of fun for half an hour, that will be great.
"You never know, it might be my chance to actually win the Grand National - I'll definitely be cheering myself on!"
He added of Alpha Des Obeaux, who was third over the famous fences in the Becher Chase in December: "Native River was the horse I was looking forward to riding in the race, but when he got injured I thought I had a small chance of riding Alpha Des Obeaux if one of Gordon's main jockeys wasn't available.
"It's very sad for all the connections who had a horse to go there, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity really and with these horses you don't what is going to happen this time next year.
"Hopefully for all the people who have horses in the virtual race it will be some lighthearted fun at a tough time."
5.15 Aintree - Virtual Grand National - 4m2½f (4m2f74y)
TIGER ROLL 11-10 Davy Rusell
BRISTOL DE MAI 11-8 Daryl Jacob
ASO 11-2 Charlie Deutsch
ELEGANT ESCAPE 11-2 Jonjo O'Neill Jnr
ANIBALE FLY 11-2 Barry Geraghty
TOP VILLE BEN 11-2 Tom Dowson
BEWARE THE BEAR 11-0 Jerry McGrath
PEREGRINE RUN 10-13 Kevin Sexton
JETT 10-13 Sam Waley-Cohen
ALPHA DES OBEAUX 10-13 Richard Johnson
TOTAL RECALL 10-13 Paul Townend
THE STORYTELLER 10-12 Keith Donoghue
MAGIC OF LIGHT 10-12 Robbie Power
TALKISCHEAP 10-11 Tommy Cannon
YALA ENKI 10-11 Bryony Frost
BALLYOPTIC 10-11 Sam Twiston-Davies
BURROWS SAINT 10-10 Rachael Blackmore
DEFINITELY RED 10-10 Brian Hughes
SUB LIEUTENANT 10-9 JJ Slevin
OK CORRAL 10-9 Derek O’Connor
TOUT EST PERMIS 10-9 Shaun Flanagan
VINTAGE CLOUDS 10-8 Danny Cook
CRIEVEHILL 10-8 Tom Bellamy
LAKE VIEW LAD 10-8 Henry Brooke
JURY DUTY 10-8 Mark Enright
PLEASANT COMPANY 10-7 David Mullins
ACAPELLA BOURGEOIS 10-6 Danny Mullins
SHATTERED LOVE 10-6 Lisa O’Neill
ANY SECOND NOW 10-6 Mark Walsh
POTTERS CORNER 10-6 Jack Tudor
DOUNIKOS 10-5 Luke Dempsey
KILDISART 10-5 Nico De Boinville
DEATH DUTY 10-5 Gavin Brouder
RAMSES DE TEILLE 10-5 Tom Scudamore
VALTOR 10-4 James Bowen
SAINT XAVIER 10-4 David Maxwell
WARRIORS TALE 10-4 Harry Cobden
DOUBLE SHUFFLE 10-4 Jonathan Burke
KIMBERLITE CANDY 10-4 Richie McLernon
WALK IN THE MILL 10-4 James Best
