Bass continuing to bang the drum for National nearly horse The Last Samuri

From Cheltenham's cross-country chase to Aintree, The Last Samuri, veteran of two Grand Nationals in which he finished second two years ago, has taken an alternative route to Liverpool this year.

A bit like his indie music-loving jockey David Bass, a latecomer to the sport who turned away from a possible career as a drummer aged 16 and chose a profession that would play out to the rhythm of hoofbeats.

At school Bass played in a punk band, whose name he would rather not divulge, and none of his family, his father Philip a music teacher, mother Rowena a vicar, had a direct connection to horseracing.