Grand National fever was gripping Bradford today as the odds shortened on local entrant Nahthen Lad.

The nine-year-old, owned by Wyke pig farmer Jim Shaw, is now the only horse trained by former winner Jenny Pitman left in tomorrow's top race.

And that fact, plus the growing band of home-town support, is attracting more and more punters to the bookies.

Mr Shaw, 69, believes his horse has a good chance of victory after coming ninth out of 17 finishers last year, but he is praying for more rain.

"He is a horse that doesn't like too firm going - he likes a bit of cut in the ground," said Mr Shaw. "I think conditions should be favourable for him. I think he has got to be in with a chance.

"I will be pleased as long as he runs a good race and finishes well. He is also a very good jumper. Everybody is asking about him and how I think he is going to do."

Customers at the Richardsons Arms - Mr Shaw's local pub - will be gathering to cheer Nahthen Lad on.

Barry Dean, landlord of the pub in Bradford Road, Oakenshaw, said: "With it being a local horse they are going to back it. Its form recently hasn't been very good, but we will still be supporting it.

"There will be people from the village in here to watch the race. We've got a sweep stake but we will be cheering on his horse. He's even got a Yorkshire name."

A William Hill spokesman confirmed punters were choosing Nahthen Lad because he was trained by Jenny Pitman who has been forced to withdraw her three other horses from the race.

"She is the queen of Aintree and will attract a vast amount of support," said the spokesman. "We would expect Nahthen Lad to be one of the leading fancies. He is a 16-1 chance.

"She has won everything and received the OBE this year. She is almost the public face of jump racing. An awful lot of people bet on Mrs P."

A spokesman for Bradford bookmakers John Woods also quoted Nahthen Lad at 16-1.

She said: "A lot of people believe in following it. I have heard people talking about it."

Mr Shaw said Nahthen Lad last ran at Haydock, although he pulled up when he looked like winning the race.

His biggest success came when he won the Sun Alliance Chase in 1996. He will be ridden tomorrow by jockey Rodney Farrant.

Mr Shaw and his son David were hoping to enjoy the occasion rather more than last year when the IRA disruption of the race led to it being abandoned.

Accompanying them will be David's wife Leslie and their two sons. "I'm looking forward to it. It's a feat in itself getting a horse in the National," he said.

If he wins, Mr Shaw says he will dedicate it to his eldest son Douglas who died of a tumour when he was 33 and who got him into horse racing.

Ladbrokes said Nahthen Lad had become the "housewives choice" for the race.

And the Lord Mayor of Bradford Councillor Tony Cairns said he will join those cheering Nahthen Lad. "I wasn't going to back anything but now I've got the tip I can't not back it or it will come in if I don't."

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