'What a feeling' - Leighton Aspell's expert guide on how to ride the National

The Grand National start is unique in that it's the only time you race over so far with so many runners and everyone wants a good start to ensure a decent look at fence one.

Although you’ll encourage your horse forward, by the time you reach the road crossing you need to sit up and let the fence come to you. Going looking for the first can lead to trouble and if it’s the horse’s first time at Aintree they often jump big early and almost seem to hang in the air.

The third fence is an open ditch and the first big test. Meeting it on a nice short stride is what every jockey wants as it’s very wide and a long stride can often be too much for a horse, causing them to bank the fence or leave their hind legs in it – and that can be race over. Once this fence is gone you relax a bit as the next two are straightforward.

Pineau De Re (right): won the 2014 Grand National inCredit: Grossick Racing

As a jockey, you start to get active again moving to the right or the left on the approach to Becher’s Brook, albeit it is not the fence it was. On landing you turn left to Foinavon, which shouldn’t be a problem unless your horse had a fright at Becher’s and is anticipating another drop.

Coming to the Canal Turn you try to swing wide to the right before turning left to jump the fence at an angle. You have to be alert because as much as you’ve thought about your line, many other jockeys will have thought exactly the same! Competition can be tough, plus there are often loose horses to avoid.

The next line of four fences ride really well and some sort of order starts to take place. Both my winners travelled and jumped well to this point and as the pace dropped over the Melling Road I was very happy.

After two smallish fences, you spread out on the approach to the biggest fence, The Chair. It’s a narrow fence, so a good sight is essential but hard to get. If you see that ‘golden stride’ close to the take-off board and soar over the fence it’s the most lovely feeling.

Over the water and then there's another chance to take a breath with lap one completed. This is when you start thinking more about your race and how you want it to go from here; you will recognise horses, jockeys, colours and see who's going well or not.

If you are lucky enough to be travelling you can really concentrate on saving ground and energy. I had two different types of rides here. Many Clouds was up behind the leader and I was able to pop the five before Becher’s, whereas Pineau De Re made a couple of mistakes and had me thinking less about position and more about staying on.

Once you’re over the next few fences you really get your game face on, and you are praying you’re not going to see a favourite swinging along next to you.

Crossing the Melling Road you’re squeezing your horse to try and gauge how much petrol they have left. On Pineau, I travelled upsides the leader and held him together until about five strides from the second last and then set sail for home. On Many Clouds, I was in front and coasted to the second last as he didn’t feel like he had a lot of energy left. Luckily I didn’t see another rival.

The run to the Elbow seems to take forever and you can hear the crowd while listening for dangers. I heard the commentator say I was four lengths clear on Pineau, whereas Many Clouds was tiring so I was screaming for the line, but what a feeling it is when you get there.

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