Cloudy Lane could start Saturday's Grand National as the clearest favourite since the heady days of Red Rum in the 1970s.

The horse is trained by Donald McCain, whose father Ginger won the race four times - three times with Red Rum.

Ladbrokes spokesman David Williams said: "We fully expect the whole nation to wake up on Saturday and back him.

"If Cloudy Lane wins, the figures don't bear thinking about. It'll be a multi-million pound bloodbath."

William Hill estimate half the country's adult population will stake an average of £8 per bet on the National.

McCain junior is now into his second season as a trainer having taken over the reins at the family's Cheshire base.

"He's learned his trade. He's probably got half a brain and he's used that half a brain to learn something," McCain senior joked.

"It's his ship and he is sailing it, no question about that whatsoever. I hate to say it, he's shaping up to be a very good trainer indeed."

Cloudy Lane, an eight-year-old gelding, will be ridden by Jason Maguire and Ladbrokes were offering odds of 9-2.

Red Rum was a 7-2 chance in 1975 when he was beaten into second place by L'Escargot.

Owned by Trevor Hemmings, Cloudy Lane has had a perfect preparation, winning his last three starts at Haydock, Ayr and Doncaster.

Donald McCain said: "His preparation couldn't have gone any smoother. All we need is a little bit of luck.

"You can't get too carried away about it because it's Aintree and we all know what can happen, so it's fingers crossed.

"We just hope they come home in one piece and what happens from then so be it."

Under the handicap terms of the race - in which some horses carry 11st 12lbs while others saddle just 10st 7lbs - Cloudy Lane has a handy mark of 10st 11bs.

But some pundits believe his price is too short, considering he has never had experience of Aintree's unusually taxing obstacles.

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