WAYNE Hutchinson’s chances of winning the Grand National are in the lap of the gods as the Swindon jockey looks to be crowned king of the biggest race on the British jump racing calendar.

Hutchinson will line up on 22/1 shot Godsmejudge for Barbury Castle trainer Alan King and is quietly confident about getting around Aintree for only the second time in his six attempts.

The nine-year-old is a proven stayer, having won the Scottish Grand National and last year finished second in the same race to Al Co before finishing third in the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown.

Despite a disappointing last trip at Bangor, Hutchinson believes that Godsmejudge has all the attributes needed to win the prestigious race but knows he needs Lady Luck on his side.

“I think this will be my sixth National and as a kid wanting to ride in the National was the pinnacle,” Hutchinson told the Adver.

“It’s the Grand National and you need a bit of luck on the day because you are going up against 39 horses.

“I have only managed to get round once and that was a great achievement for me.

“He is the right profile for the race and has won the Scottish National and came second in that race last year, and also finished third in the Whitbread Gold Cup (bet365 Gold Cup Chase at Sandown) last year, so he has it in him.

“He comes right this time of year and the going has come right for him.

“His form of late has not been the best but I think he has proved that he stays this distance and with the National you just never know.

“It is just great to be part of the day and to have my family and children there watching will be great.”

Despite a change to the fences over recent years to make the race better from a safety point of view, Hutchinson, who has fallen twice at the first hurdle, is a firm believer that the size of the field means that you do need to ride your luck to get around.

“I think the classy horses still come to the fore, that has been proved over the last five or ten years, and it is still a test of jumping,” he added.

“The fences have been changed from a safety point of view with the cores now easy fix. They used to be wooden and that caused more rotational falls, where as now you get more sliding falls, which leads to less serious injuries.

“You definitely need a horse with the ability but at the same time you need to have luck on your side.

“It is just great to be part of the day and to have my family and children there watching will be great.”

Today’s Crabbie’s Grand National gets under way at 4.15pm.