NO hanging about this year. I'll come straight to my prediction for the Grand National. And it's one of the few horses in the race with a Herefordshire connection.

Experience over the Aintree fences is imperative, I believe, and two of my Grand National winners in the past four years - Amberleigh House in 2004 and Silver Birch 12 months ago - had it.

So, Mr Pointment is my bet for Saturday's big race at Aintree.

In the saddle will be Cheltenham Gold Cup winning jockey Sam Thomas, who made his name riding for Venetia Williams and is still regularly employed by the Kings Caple yard.

Mr Pointment won the Becher Chase over the spruce fences in November and, although the rise in the weights for him shocked even his trainer Paul Nicholls, the West Country stable still believe he's improving.

The Champion Trainer's horses are in sparkling form, while Sam Thomas is enjoying a fabulous year, riding at the top of his game, and a Grand National winner would cap his year.

Cloudy Lane - trained by Ginger McCain's son Donald jnr - is likely to be sent off the shortest-priced favourite for the race in 30 years. Experts believe he is considerably better than his 10st 11lb weight would indicate. But it's no guarantee of success - indeed no horse considered more than seven pounds "well in" has won in the last ten years.

Another popular choice with punters will be Simon, trained just across the county border at Kinnersley in Worcestershire by John Spearing. The horse was going very well in last year's Grand National when falling six fences from home.

The one true' Herefordshire representative left in among the runners that can make the final 40 is Mon Mome from Venetia Williams's yard. He could be a dark horse off a handy weight at one of the bigger prices.

With the lowest weight likely to be around 10st 6lb or 10st 7lb, then the big weight carriers are less inconvenienced than in previous years. The going too, which will be decent, will be in their favour. Lumping a hefty weight around four and a half miles over those fences is less of a burden if the going is good.

So, Mr Pointment it is. Early this week his price was in the mid 20s, and at that price he's a nice each-way fancy too.

*The next racing at Hereford Racecourse is Thursday 1 May when the first race is scheduled for 2.25pm. Grandstand admission is £14. Accompanied children aged under 16 enter free of charge. More information can be found on web site www.hereford-racecourse.co.uk or by telephoning the racecourse on 01432 273560.