Grand National rollercoaster begins with three spins around Plumpton

2.40 PlumptonSky Sports Racing Sussex National Handicap Chase | 3m4½f | Sky

It is National day. But don't be alarmed, there are plenty of them these days and Tiger Roll's potential date with destiny is still three months away.

The Grand National is the oldest – and longest – of numerous staying handicap chases due to be run under that banner in Britain and Ireland this year, from Catterick to Cork and Killarney to Kelso.

First up is the Sky Sports Racing Sussex National over an extended three and a half miles and nearly three and a half circuits at Plumpton, with 20 fences to be jumped.

Don't Forget last month's course winner

Hard To Forget ran a fine Sussex National trial when winning here last month, pulling clear on the run-in and hinting he would be suited by this longer trip.

He has been put up 8lb for that 16-length victory but has run his best races on this soft ground.

"He won nicely last time and the plan was that if he handled the track he would come back for this," said jockey Dave Crosse, who won this on Ironside for Colin Tizzard in 2008. "He deserves a chance at a good pot.

"It's a fair hike in the weights and he's on a career-high mark but he's run over three miles one only twice and he's won twice – he's a proper stayer and three miles four on bottomless ground will be right up his street."

Stamina no issue for Empress

Unusually, Belle Empress is stepping down in trip on her first crack at a National.

She won over an extended three miles six furlongs at Exeter last month, a success which came just a few days after Emma Lavelle and Ben Jones had teamed up to land the Ladbrokes Trophy with De Rasher Counter.

"Stamina and jumping are her fortes," her trainer said. "It's a different track to Exeter but the distance is key and she goes there in good form.

"The ground is no problem but you need luck and it's a competitive race – plenty go there with a chance."

What they say

Harry Whittington, trainer of Vinnie Lewis
Vinnie Lewis is in very good form at home. He drops back down in class for a race he won two years ago and with Page Fuller's claim he's carrying only 3lb more, so hopefully he'll run a big race.

Oliver Sherwood, trainer of Weststreet
He was slightly unlucky at Kelso as he was stopped when a horse fell in front of him and you can write that run off. He'll love the ground and if he produces his spring form he'll be knocking on the door – he's a big price but he's not going for the fresh air.

Joe Tizzard, assistant to Colin Tizzard, trainer of Christmas In April
He's getting better and it was a nice win last time. This is anther step up but we know he handles conditions and he stays well so he's in the right race.

Robert Stephens, trainer of The Caller
He won the Durham National very nicely and then he ran too badly to be true at Fontwell. A few of mine ran terribly then but they're back now and he seems in good form. It's the heaviest ground he's run on, which is a concern, but I'm hoping for a big run.

The Caller winning the Durham National at SedgefieldCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Evan Williams, trainer of Billy Bronco
He's more than capable on his day and I feel this type of trip is well within him, but everything has got to go right. He's a good, tough horse on his day.

Jeremy Scott, trainer of Garrane
This has been the target for most of the season. We're trying cheekpieces to sharpen him up a bit. The trip won't be a problem and we hope he'll run well.

Linda Jewell, trainer of Uallrightharry
He's off a nice weight and a light weight will help him in the testing ground. He goes well at Plumpton and he was a bit unlucky last time, he would have gone close. He seems to stay well and I hope he can match Itoldyou, who won this for us in 2015.

The Nationals in 2020

It all began when the Great Liverpool Steeplechase became the Liverpool and National Handicap Steeplechase in 1839 and then the Grand National Handicap Chase in 1847 – now Nationals are everywhere.

Aintree stages the oldest, longest and most valuable one of all, with £1 million on offer in the world's most famous chase on April 4.

The Scottish National (which was founded in 1858) and the Welsh version (1895) are both on their third different venue but the Irish equivalent (1870) has always been run at Fairyhouse.

Among the most gruelling challenges is the 4m2f Midlands Grand National, inaugurated in 1969 and run at Uttoxeter on the Saturday after the Cheltenham Festival.

The McHale Mayo National is virtually a sprint by comparison, run over just two miles seven furlongs at Ballinrobe in May.

A notable omission is the Cambridgeshire National, which has now been scrapped by Huntingdon, while the Kent National met its demise when Folkestone sadly closed in 2012.

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