Team Silver is going for National gold

Despite initial reluctance on safety grounds, St Johnstone FC chairman Brown has given the go-ahead for his strong nine-year-old grey to have a tilt at the biggest prize in National Hunt racing, and although this thorough stayer has not raced over the National fences before, his trainer and jockey are sure he will be up to the challenge of the unique Aintree obstacles.

"I know the horse so well as I have ridden him for the last three seasons," said Buchanan, who will be the only jockey in racing with a degree in accountancy. "His jumping this season, I would nearly call it awesome. He's always had plenty of scope to deal with big fences, but his accuracy this season has improved.'

The bookies generally have Silver By Nature as a 14-1 chance, and those odds may tumble when punters realise that Russell's stable is flying - more than 40 winners have already been sent out from the Kinross-shire yard, her biggest seasonal total to date.

A treble for Russell, with Buchanan riding two and Campbell Gillies on the other winner, at Newcastle on Friday confirmed that her yard is bang in form.

As you might expect, Russell does not reserve the credit for herself, Scudamore and Buchanan, but happily points out that every lad and lass at the Arlary House Stables near Milnathort is playing their part.

Russell said: "This has been our best season and everyone in the yard has been amazing. It's almost surprising how much success we have had and how easy it has been. When things are going well, you know that it's possible to crash back down again but, at the moment, everything is really on an upward curve and it's very exciting to be involved in it."

The very patriotic Edinburgh-born Russell is acutely aware that Silver By Nature is flying the flag for Scotland next Saturday. "Less than a week to go and this is the really tense bit for me," said Russell.

"It's not so much the actual day of the race, it's the build-up just now.

"The press day that we had on Thursday brought things home to me. But, if we can bring more attention to racing in Scotland, then that's great."

The least fazed individual at the Arlarly House stables is Silver By Nature himself.

"He's gone through all the difficult bits, we've done all the hard work, he's had a jump over an Aintree-style fence and he's ready just to enjoy himself and freshen up for the race," said Russell.

"I don't think he'll find the Aintree crowds a problem, he's terribly laid back. On the gallops he doesn't feel like he is going very fast but he's very hard to pull up at the top. He's a very professional horse, very focused."

Russell reiterated that, if the ground comes up firm next Saturday, his owner will probably decide that Silver By Nature should instead wait for the Scottish Grand National at Ayr a week later.

So, with all due respect to Scousers, Russell and Co are praying for a deluge of rain on north Liverpool. "I've got a super guy who lives quite close to the track and he's sending me texts every evening to tell me exactly how much rain there has been," says Russell.

"It's not that Silver By Nature can't go on good ground, it's just that he is 10lbs better on heavy."

The race that clinched Silver By Nature's participation next weekend was February's totesport.com Grand National Trial at Haydock. Confidently ridden by Buchanan, the horse could not have been more impressive in dismissing a field of seasoned handicappers.

Russell said: "It was a great race for us to win and he was by far the best horse on the day, but I think there were not too many improving horses in it. I was worried at one point when he was going down the back straight and he looked a bit outpaced, but then you realised that he was into his rhythm and, when they turned for home, nothing could stay with him."

Peter Scudamore, the former eight-times champion jockey, backs the view of the trainer, who is his partner in life as well as business: "I believe he had a great chance in the race but he's got to get there now. He seems to be better than ever.

"I am not saying he will win, because there are so many other factors involved but he has the capability to win. He is intelligent, he jumps well, he has stamina."

The statistics, however, say Silver By Nature cannot win - it is 50 years since Nicolaus Silver became the last grey to win the race, only two women trainers have won it, and only one Scottish-trained horse has been victorious and that was back in 1979 when Rubstic, trained by John Leadbetter and ridden by Maurice Barnes, outstayed Zongalero on the run-in to win by just over a length.

It's surely time Scotland had another winner. As Buchanan said: "I was at Kelso races the other day and bumped into Maurice Barnes, and he said: ‘Good luck, I hope you can join the club.' I would love to join that club."

Every punter in Scotland will echo that remark come the 4.15pm post time at Aintree on Saturday.