Cloudy Lane, the long-term favourite for the Grand National, will face 39 rivals over four and a half miles in the big race at Aintree at 4.15pm.

But his prospects of being the shortest-priced favourite since Red Rum in 1975 dwindled by lunchtime on Saturday as punters looked for more value with their bets.

Cloudy Lane is trained by Donald McCain, the son of Ginger, who led Red Rum to three Grand National wins.

But his odds drifted to 13-2 with money coming in for Comply or Die (9-1).

Timmy Murphy has played safe in choosing the likely second favourite over Vodka Bleu as his mount in the big race.

Murphy, seeking his first victory in the big race from 12 attempts, felt he could not desert Comply or Die after the David Pipe-trained horse won the Eider Chase at Newcastle.

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"I think it was the safest decision. He's proved that he stays and that he jumps safely, two things you need to do in the National," he said.

Such was the support for the nine-year-old that there was even the prospect he could challenge Cloudy Lane for favouritism.

Meanwhile, Ruby Walsh rode three winners at Aintree on Friday, and his mount, Hedgehunter, also attracted plenty of support.

The 12-year-old saddles a weight of 11st 12lbs, the highest in the race, and is the only past winner of the race running today, having given Walsh his second winning ride in 2005.

Race organisers expect the largest ever crowd for the day's meeting, which begins with a 22-runner handicap hurdle at 1.45pm.

But although Cloudy Lane will get the good going he prefers, he has never raced over Aintree's unique fences - which have to be jumped 30 times in the race.

That factor appears to have ensured he will not start as short as Red Rum did 33 years ago.

On that occasion the famous horse finished second at odds of 7-2.