Saint Are hoping to win Grand National for West Midlands

Owned by David Fox, the Cheslyn Hay based chairman of electronics company Powerpanels, Saint Are is tipped at 33/1 for Saturday's race.

Fox says that Saint Are is in peak condition ahead of the race, and that confidence is high throughout the yard.

"We are in with a brilliant opportunity," he added.

"He's the right weight, he's the right age, he's jumped the national fences recently. He's got the full set of qualifications. Everything's right.

"If you were to see him now, he's as black as the ace of spades, but it's shiny black. The only other time he's been like that in his life was when he got a great win at Aintree.

"We're just hopeful, if he's still there at the end of the first circuit we'll start getting excited. He's got stamina to burn, he can go forever.

"I'm as optimistic as I've ever been. If it was anything but the Grand National I'd be looking for a win, but it's a big race and anything can go wrong outside of your control.

"I think you'd be losing your head if you were going into a race with anything more than a serious chance. I'll be disappointed if we're not in the first few.

"It's going so quickly, it's ridiculous. Suddenly there's only a few days to go and it's overwhelming, because of the anticipation of it. Still, it's something not many people will have the chance to experience in their lives, and I'm pleased to have that chance."

The nine-year-old horse is no stranger to the pressure of the biggest event in the racing year.

He is a dual winner at the Crabbie's Grand National Festival's Mildmay Course , winning the Grade One Doom Bar Sefton Novices' Hurdle in 2011 and the Listed Betfred Handicap Chase in 2012.

In 2013 Saint Are raced in the Grand National, finishing nine places behind winner Auroras Encore.

Since joining trainer Tom George at the beginning of the season, Saint Are has had nothing but good form.

He came third in his first three outings, including an impressive effort at the Betfred Becher Chase over the Grand National Course in December. He was three and three quarter lengths behind winner and Grand National veteran Oscar Time.

In total, Saint Are has started 31 races and placed in the top three in over 13. He has won nearly £150,000.

Tom George says the horse is exactly where they want him to be, adding: "We are very much keeping everything simple.

"I feel that we couldn't have him in better condition. We're going in hopeful, but there's only so much that we can do."

Another favourite runner, Unioniste, is owned by Cosford-based businessman John Hales.

Trainer Paul Nicholls said: "Racing anoraks will tell you that Unioniste is too young at seven to win the National but I take no notice of statistics and trends. For me they are there to be broken."