Grand National 2014: Sam Waley-Cohen hoping Long Run can keep up fine Aintree record

Amateur jockey will be on board 2011 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero as the nine-year-old bids for victory

Sam Waley-Cohen is hoping Long Run can help him keep up his fine record over the Grand National fences at Aintree on Saturday.

The amateur jockey will be on board 2011 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero as the nine-year-old bids for victory in the Crabbies Grand National.

Waley-Cohen has ridden in the Aintree marathon four times and finished fifth on Liberthine a half-sister to Long Run - and second (2011) and fourth on Oscar Time (2013).

He has also won over the National course four times. Katarino claimed back-to-back victories in the Fox Hunters Chase in 2005 and 2006, while Liberthine landed the 2006 Topham Chase.

Now he is looking to achieve his dream and land the worlds greatest steeplechase on the Nicky Henderson-trained Long Run, who is owned by Waley-Cohens father Robert.

The amateur rider said: The Grand National, even riding in it never mind winning it, was an early dream of mine when I started out riding horses.

In pictures: Old Grand National photos transformed into colour

Its a race that has been very kind to me and as Long Run has had such an impact on the life of everybody in our family, it would be amazing if he could win it. Its the greatest race in racing.

Weve no regrets about not going for the Gold Cup this year. There were a whole host of them with a chance at the last and wed like to think he would have been bang there if he'd run, but it just felt right to miss it this year.

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Grand National 2014: Sam Waley-Cohen hoping Long Run can keep up fine Aintree record