The best way to pick a Grand National winner

For many is the most important decision of the year: Who will win the 2016 Grand National?

Published 7th Apr 2016

The clock is ticking, and it's not long now until millions of us look at all the pros and cons, take stock and make what for many is the most important decision of the year: Who will win the 2016 Grand National?

New research from bookmakers William Hill suggests a whopping 80% of the UK population are expected to have either a bet on, or be part of a sweepstake for, the world’s biggest steeplechase.

Many Clouds</a> 2015 Grand National winner Many Clouds

The betting boffins have researched all of the 69 Grand Nationals since 1946 to see which "lucky" factors we should take into account when choosing a horse.

Here is a breakdown of "THE IDEAL HORSE" and its connections. It should:

Be BAY in colour (39/69 of those have won or 57%) - Be aged NINE (24 or 35%) - Be Bred in IRELAND (44 or 64%)) - Have the word RED in its name (5 or 7%)) - Have TWO words in its name (38 or 55%) - Have GREEN as main or part of its silk colours (24 or 35%) - Wear the number SIX (9 or 13%) - Go off at 10-1 (6 or 9%) - Be trained by an ENGLISH TRAINER (52 or 75%) - Be trained by a man called FRED (6 or 9%) - Be trained in BERKSHIRE (10 or 14%) - Be ridden by an IRISH JOCKEY (32 or 46%) - Be ridden by a Jockey called ROBERT (OR BOB) (5 or 7%)

The 2016 Grand National at Aintree will start an hour later than in previous years, at 5.15pm, to give fans a better opportunity to watch the race. Good luck if you're having a flutter!