IT'S the John Smith's Grand National tomorrow and much of the attention this year will focus on whether Tony McCoy can finally win the big race.

The ten-times champion jockey, who lives at Kingston Lisle, near Wantage, has captured National Hunt's other top prizes and broken every record in the book.

But the Aintree spectacular has so far proved elusive, with ten rides producing just a couple of minor places.

Twelve months ago, he was six lengths clear on Clan Royal when his mount was carried out by loose horses at Becher's Brook second time round.

Memories of that unfortunate exit still haunt McCoy, although he doubts he would have beaten the impressive winner Hedgehunter.

Now, a year on, he will tackle Aintree's formidable fences on the same Jonjo O'Neill-trained chaser.

And as his mount receives an extra 12lb from Hedgehunter, he is hopeful they can turn the tables.

"Clan Royal is going there with a decent chance," says the 31-year-old, who hails from Moneyglass, County Antrim.

"He's tough and hard, and Aintree seems to bring out the best in him."

Away from the National, trainer Martin Bosley is on the move to a new yard at Marlborough in Wiltshire.

The 42-year-old handler, who has been at Kingston Lisle Farm Stables, near Wantage, for the last nine years, has already transferred his string to an 18-box yard on the White Barn Farm estate owned by trainer Heidi Sweeting.

And the former jump jockey is excited by the new venture.

"It is a great opportunity," he said. "It is a fantastic place with great gallops and facilities. I can't wait to get there now.

"If you ever wanted to train racehorses, and you went all round the country, then this would be the place to go to."

Mark Rimell has closed down his Leafield stables, near Witney, for the rest of the jumps season.

Rimell has been forced to take the drastic step because his 30-strong team have been hit with an alarming loss of form.

"For reasons we've been unable to pinpoint, our horses haven't shown their true form since Christmas," he said Rimell.

"We've taken lots of tests, but nothing came to light. Under the circumstances, it's sensible to call a stop and to send them out to grass."

Paul Cole's Whatcombe stables, near Wantage, have been boosted by the $1.75m purchase of five well-bred two-year-olds at the sales in Florida.

Cole and his son Oliver splashed out that figure at the Fasig-Tipton Calder Sale on behalf of Russian owner Alfiya Shaykhutdinova, the owner of last year's Newbury Spring Cup winner, Fine Silver.

The horses are a filly by Freud for $300,000, a colt by Two Punch for $475,000, a filly by Fusaichi Pegasus for $250,000, a filly by Tiznow for $350,000 and a colt by Storm Cat for $350,000.

And Cole sent out a winner for Shaykhutdinova at Kempton on Sunday when Fantaisiste, who is foal to Cadeaux Genereux, came with a late swoop under Nelson de Souza to beat Golden Dixie by three-quarters of a length.

Wantage trainer Henry Candy sent out Devine Dancer to spring a 33-1 surprise at Lingfield, while Alan Jarvis, who trains at Twyford, near Bicester, has his string in fine fettle with Trans Sonic and Star Of Canterbury scoring at Kempton and Southwell respectively.