Rule The World’s connections after winning the 2016 Grand National. (Pic: Courtesy of Great British Racing).

Horse Talk with Simon Jackson: Top horse racing tips and the latest news.

DRY GROUND is forecast ahead of the £1million Randox Health Grand National at Aintree on Saturday where the ground on the National course is currently Good to Soft, Good in places.

The first day of the three-day Grand National Festival on Thursday April 6 coincides with the final declarations for the world’s greatest steeplechase when the maximum field of 40 runners and reserves will be revealed for Aintree’s showpiece event.

It was another sunny day at Aintree on Tuesday and dry weather is forecast for the next three days with dry, cloudy weather today (Wednesday). From Thursday to Saturday the expectation is for dry, cloudy weather with the occasional sunny spell.

“The ground has just dried out a bit more, so we have gone Good to Soft (Good in places) on the National course clerk of the course Andrew Tulloch said.

“We have watered (five millimetres) the Mildmay and Hurdle Courses and so we have kept the descriptions broadly the same.

“The backside of the Melling Road has been watered today and I would hope that would carry us through to Thursday. If we need to do anything more tomorrow, in terms of watering, we will do so.

“From tomorrow, the forecast suggests the weather will become cloudier and it looks like we won’t see much sunshine again until Saturday.”

Going: Grand National Course – Good to Soft (Good in places) Mildmay Course and Hurdle Course – Good (Good to Soft in places).

Horse Talk with Simon Jackson. Showcasing horse racing in London and the south east.