FOR many years, the second weekend of April has been a fantastic time to be a sports fan.

The Grand National, the climax of the Masters and The Boat Race all take place this weekend, on top of all of the usual football and rugby fixtures.

Believe it or not, it has been even better in the past. I certainly remember times when the FA Cup semi-finals have also been played on the same weekend, making for a real feast of sport.

The Boat Race is a strange event. It’s never really caught my imagination, but it has an amazing ability to captivate people who seeming have absolutely no interest in rowing or the universities of Oxford and Cambridge themselves.

Take my late grandmother, for example. She grew up in east London and left school at 14, but for some reason, she used to get ever so excited about 16 well-to-do young men rowing four miles up the Thames once a year.

She would spend the race willing Oxford on to victory. I’ve no idea why, but she wasn’t alone. It’s one of those events that people who are not even interested in sport tend to tune in for. A British institution.

In that sense, it’s remarkably similar to the Grand National, which will take place just before it tomorrow afternoon.

For one day of the year, everyone in this country turns into not just a horse racing fan, but a punter, with millions of people placing their one bet of the year on the lottery of 40 horses jumping 30 fences over the course of four miles.

I’m one of them – and I’ve spent the last half-an-hour working out who I’m going to back this year.

The Grand National is a totally unique event. This is mainly down to the fences, which are unlike anything racehorses come up against throughout the rest of the year, but also the extreme distance it is run over.

It’s almost impossible to know how a horse will react to the obstacles, which is why it’s so hard to pick a winner, but there are other races over similar distances, notably the Scottish, Welsh and Irish Grand Nationals.

A couple of years ago, I spotted a pattern, with horses that had done well in the other Grand Nationals going on to place at Aintree, and last year I used it to pick the horses I was going to back.

I put money on five horses, all of the £1 each-way, for a total stake of £10 – but I have to admit I didn’t have much success. I won £6 back thanks to a second place for Balthazar King, but that was a horse I backed after getting a tip. My research into the other Grand Nationals failed to bear fruit.

Undeterred, I’ve done my homework again this year – and this is what I’ve come up with.

From the Scottish Grand National, I have got Al Co, who won in 2014, and Godsmejudge, who won in 2013 and was second last year, while favourite Shutthefrontdoor, the mount of AP McCoy, won the Irish Grand National last year.

I also look at form from previous Grand Nationals. Four of the first five to finish last year are running again, the winner Pineau De Re, second-placed Balthazar King, Alvarado, who was fourth, and Rocky Creek, who finished fifth.

In addition, Oscar Time, who was fourth in 2013, is also in the race.

That’s eight horses, but I only want to back five of them. Historically, horses don’t win two Grand Nationals in a row, so I’m ruling out Pineau De Re, while Shutthefrontdoor’s odds are too short for my liking.

I only really want to back one horse with odds below 12-1, so I’m sticking with Balthazar King for old times’ sake, meaning Rocky Creek falls by the wayside.

So, here are the five horses I will be backing, with their odds as I write this on Thursday afternoon.

  • Balthazar King 10-1 (win £11 total return, place £3.50)
  • Alvarado 20-1 (win £21, place £6)
  • Godsmejudge 22-1 (win £23, place £6.50)
  • Al Co 25-1 (win £26, place £7.25)
  • Oscar Time 50-1 (win £51, place £13.50)

So, the best case scenario would be a win for Oscar Time, with Al Co, Godsmejudge and Alvarado following him home. Total returns of £70.75, so I’m not going to be retiring, but it’s all good fun.

Let’s see how they get on – and if you have got any tips for me, let me know using the comment box below, or Tweet me @JBoymanGazette.