CELEBRE D‘Allen, trained by Philip Hobbs and Johnson White, will be carrying the hopes of West Somerset punters when he takes part in the Grand National, the best known horse race in the world.

During his long and successful career Hobbs has saddled over 3000 winners, but the Grand National, which takes place at 4pm this Saturday afternoon at Aintree, is one he has never won.

For the past two years Hobbs has shared the licence at Sandhill Racing Stables with White who had previously been his assistant for 30 years. This season the duo have enjoyed considerable success and to date have notched 50 winners, which they will be hoping to add to at the weekend.

Looking ahead to Saturday’s big race which is run over four miles 514 yards and is worth more than £500, 000 to the winning owners, White said: “ Celebre D’Allen deserves to take his chance. He has jumped round Aintree several times before and has run well over the National fences. The extra distance and the ground will suit him very well.

“He is 13 now and an old favourite around the yard and has been with us since he was about six years old. Stable jockey Micheal Nolan will ride him on Saturday.”

He went on: “It’s several seasons since we had a runner in the National so it’s great to have horses of this calibre and he should be suited by the race conditions.

“I think we will probably have three horses running at the Aintree meeting on Saturday so its likely we will be going up there on Friday.

“Philip has never won the National; he has been second a couple of times so on Saturday we will be looking to put that right.”