Ben Jones Grand National Day rides blog: 'They've had this race in mind for him for a long time'

Leading jockey Ben Jones has five rides on Day Three at Aintree, including Jordans in the Grand National. The Ladbrokes ambassador previews them all in his latest exclusive blog.

• No Questions Asked - Aintree - 12.45 race odds

• Minella Rescue - Aintree - 1.20 race odds

• Bad - Aintree - 2.30 race odds

• Jordans - Aintree - 4.00 race odds

• Rices Pool - Aintree - 5.00 race odds

12.45 - No Questions Asked

I start Grand National day at Aintree with No Questions Asked in the novices' chase, who is stepping back up in grade. I think the small field is going to help him here - I schooled him earlier this week and he schooled very well. I was probably angry with myself the last day; I dropped him out and things just weren't really working for us at Cheltenham. We never really got into it, so we've put a line through that race, and if he can have a nice, smooth, run around Aintree, I think the drop back down to two miles will suit. All being well, he'll have a good each-way chance.

1.20 - Minella Rescue

My next one is Minella Rescue for Gary Hanmer. I don't know a whole lot about it and he seems to be in and out of form. But if you go back to last year's form around Aintree, he had a very good run. He's around 50/1, and he's got to run a lot better than he's shown, obviously. But the ability is there, for sure. 

2.30 - Bad

Then I've got Bad in the three-mile handicap chase, and I think he's been crying out to go up in trip. We were debating whether to go for this or the Topham. But with the ground being nice, I think he deserves a go over three miles. He's brilliant at home, he's come out of his last run really well, and I think he should be able to get into a good rhythm a lot easier by stepping up in trip. And I know he's got the class as well, so hopefully he can show what he's capable of here, and if he does, then we've got a great chance.

4.00 - Jordans

The next one is obviously the big one, and I'm riding a horse called Jordans for Joseph O'Brien. Again, I don't know a whole lot about it, to be honest, but he showed very good form at Aintree last year. He obviously hasn't run over these fences before, so he's got to take to them well. I think they've had this race in mind for him for a long time, and that can definitely only be a bonus... I'm very much looking forward to it. Obviously it's new connections too, and I've got a ride in the Grand National, which is what every jockey wants. You know, I've had a spin in the National a couple of times now, so I'm excited to get back out there and see how we get on.

5.00 - Rices Pool

Ben [Pauling] actually has four runners in this race, and I'm on Rices Pool. It was a bit of a tough choice to make, to be honest, but I really liked the way he went around Taunton the last day. He's obviously going to have to step up here, but he was a very willing partner first time out, and I think out of Ben's four, him and Merry Away are very similar. It's obviously a decent race, and a step up in grade, but he's already given me a lovely feel this season, and if it's not to be this time out, then he'll be a lovely hurdler next year.

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