A former Grand National winning jockey is sweating on his participation in the world’s greatest steeplechase tomorrow.

A maximum field of 40 will line up in the 4m 4f marathon at Aintree at 4.15pm, including Shropshire hope Big Fella Thanks, who was bred by Richard Wilding at Ragdon, near Church Stretton.

But jockey Graham Lee faces an anxious wait to learn if he will be involved in one of sport’s great spectacles.

Lee partnered Amberleigh House to victory in 2004 to give legendary trainer Ginger McCain the last of his four wins in the race.

But the rider will have to pass the doctor tomorrow morning to take the ride on Kilbeggan Blade.

Lee was stood down from his one ride at the track on the first day of the National meeting yesterday as medical staff were not happy with his condition following a fall at Wetherby on Tuesday.

He went to Fazackerley Hospital in Liverpool for X-rays and sat out today’s action – with the aim of being passed fit for tomorrow’s feature event.

Meanwhile, conditions on Merseyside continue to be dry – causing officials to water the course last night.

Clerk of Aintree Andrew Tulloch said: “There is no rain forecast until tonight or the early hours of tomorrow morning so we have done some selective watering in order to maintain the ground we had yesterday.”

Tulloch will be praying there is no repeat of the farce when the 150th National was declared void.

After one false start and a successful recall, almost the entire field failed to realise that a second false start had occurred and set off to tackle the daunting fences.

The race ended in heartbreak for jockey John White who crossed the line first on Jenny Pitman’s Esha Ness, but had not won.