A) Aldaniti, who won in 1981 under Bob Champion. For many, this was the most emotional Aintree moment, as Champion had bravely fought an even bigger challenge than the National fences in cancer. Bob's story was immortalised in the film "Champions" starring John Hurt.

B) Becher's Brook, named after Captain Becher, a jockey in the first ever race. This was the stream he was catapulted into after parting company with his horse, and he sensibly stayed put until the rest of the field had passed.

C) Corbiere. This was another tear-jerker, when he won for the redoubtable lady trainer Jenny Pitman in 1983. To date, Mrs Pitman remains the only lady trainer to have taken the prize.

D) Devon Loch, perhaps the most famous non-winner of the Grand National. In 1956, with the race at his mercy, Dick Francis' mount inexplicably spread-eagled in the run-in, thus robbing HM The Queen Mother of a deserved victory.

E) Earth Summit, the 1998 Winner, who was the first Grand National champion to also win the Scottish and Welsh Nationals.

F) Foinavon. Now there is a fence named in his honour (jumped as the 7th and 23rd). Foinavon profited from a spectacular pile-up in 1967 at this eponymous fence, stealing away in the confusion to win by 15 lengths at the enormous odds of 100-1.

G) Golden Miller, probably the best horse ever to win the Grand National. Dorothy Paget's wonder horse is perhaps more famous for his Gold Cup exploits at Cheltenham, but his 1934 Grand National win proved his mastery of the jumping game.

H) Hobbs. Bruce Hobbs was only 17 years old when he took the Grand National on Battleship in 1938. He remains the youngest winning jockey to date.

I) Ireland, home to many of chasing's greats. A long gap in Irish victories followed L'Escargot's 1975 victory. Bobbyjo and Papillon have won the last two races, however, and and Irish hat-trick is on!

J) Jerry, seemingly a lucky name for winners. Not only did Jerry take the second ever Grand National in 1840, but Jerry M won in 1912.

K) King Edward VII, who when still Prince of Wales in 1900 was the only Royal owner with a Grand National winner to date with Ambush II.

L) Lutteur III, the longest-priced winning favourite at 100-9 when obliging under Georges Parfrement in 1909.

M) Mr Frisk, whose 1990 victory is the quickest Grand National at Aintree to date, in a time of 8 minutes and 47.8 seconds.

N) Nickel Coin, who is the most recent of the twelve mares to win the Grand National, back in 1951.

O) O'Sullevan. The "Voice of Racing", Sir Peter O'Sullevan commentated on no less than 50 Grand Nationals, culminating with Lord Gyllene's 1997 victory.

P) Poethlyn, the shortest-priced winner in 1919 at 11-4. Poethlyn had also taken the preceding year's "War National" at Gatwick.

Q) Quare Times, who in 1955 completed the incomparable Vincent O'Brien's hat-trick of Grand National victories. Early Mist and Royal Tan were the other winners.

R) Red Rum. The statistics say it all: 1973 Winner, 1974 Winner, 1975 Second, 1976 Second, 1977 Winner! The beloved "Rummy" was buried at Aintree after his death in October 1995.

S) Sixty-Six, the record number of runners that lined up in 1929.

T) Tipperary Tim, who was winner in 1928 when only two horses completed the race. This carnage looked like being repeated in 2001 but remounted horses filled the third and fourth spots.

U) USA. Jay Trump and Ben Nevis were American bred winners. Hollywood is also the source of the greatest fictional account of the great race, with The Pi's victory in "National Velvet"

V) Void race. The unthinkable happened in 1993 when due to the runners not being recalled after a false start, Jenny Pitman's Esha Ness won the hollowest of victories in the Grand National that never was.

W) War and the unfortunate fact the Grand National had to be postponed from 1941 to 1945 due to World War two, with it recommencing again in 1946. Up until 1940 the Grand National had never missed a year in it's 102 year history. But thankfully in 1946 the event was resumed with Lovely Cottage ridden by jockey Captain Bobby Petre taking 1st place.

X) Multiplying, not a usual later occupation for Grand National winning horses. The stiff fences make chases of this nature most unappealing for entire horses.

Y) Young Driver, runner-up in 1986 to West Tip. At 66-1, this is the closest a rank outsider has got in recent years. Some argue that the modified fences now make the Grand National "just another Handicap", but these critics seldom include the jockeys who have to ride the course!