Tony McCoy is placing his faith in the mastery of Jonjo O'Neill to help him break his John Smith's Grand National duck on Butler's Cabin.

The 13-times champion jockey has endured 13 failed attempts in the greatest race of them all.

McCoy was travelling like the winner 12 months ago on Butler's Cabin when he tipped up at Becher's Brook on the second circuit.

"Jonjo appears to be able to get horses to peak specifically for a certain race, and it looked like he had done the trick with Butler's Cabin last year as he was running a big race until he fell," said McCoy, who also had the choice of riding Can't Buy Time, Reveillez and L'Ami.

"He ran his best race since then at Cheltenham last time so, hopefully, he is hitting form at the right time.

"It's the Grand National, and you need a bit of luck, but we are happy with him.

"Obviously Jonjo has two others in it and JP (McManus, owner) has L'Ami, so it wasn't a straightforward decision.

"But, having won an Irish National on him, it would have been difficult to get off him.

"You'd hope that stamina is one thing he has lots of and that is one of the main reasons I picked him.

"Last year's race was the sweetest he'd travelled all year.

"Obviously he had been trained for the race, but it was the best he travelled and jumped and hopefully he'll come alive again.

"I think Rambling Minster has a good chance, Kilbeggan Blade is a horse I have won a couple on who stays well and My Will undoubtedly has the best form – but the question mark over him is his jumping."

Ruby Walsh, who has already won the race twice, also had multiple choices but has plumped for Paul Nicholls' My Will, who is likely to go off favourite.

Walsh said: "I went for him because of the ground. You had to weigh it all up and you'd love to be on one with less than 11st – they have the best record in the race – but he has 11st 4lb and is a classy individual who was third in a Betfred Gold Cup off a big weight and he should stay.

"He has had a tendency in the past to make the odd mistake, so we are hoping to eradicate that, but I think he has a good chance."

One horse who has been popular with punters over the last couple of weeks is 2006 Hennessy Gold Cup winner State Of Play.

Trained in Wales by Evan Williams, the nine-year-old has that undoubted touch of class needed to win the National these days.

"I have been very happy with his preparation and have schooled him over some small National fences to get his eye in," said Williams.

"It is a shame the weights went up, but plenty of horses have won with over 11st – he did carry 11st 4lb to victory in the Hennessy."

Rambling Minster, winner of the Blue Square Gold Cup at Haydock, has had a smooth build-up – but trainer Keith Reveley accepts luck is likely to be a key factor in the race.

"He's had a perfect preparation and we can't do anymore more, we're in the lap of the gods now and we'll see what happens," said the Cleveland-based handler.

"The ground will be fine, everything will be fine, we just need loads of luck in running.

"We've had a dream preparation and we just hope for the best.

"Everything's perfect, it's just the fences and 39 other horses.

"The horse is in great order and we just pray that everything goes well."

Christian Williams finished second in his first ever National on Royal Auclair in 2005 and cannot wait to be reunited with Nicholls' Big Fella Thanks.

The Welsh-born rider partnered the seven-year-old to victory in the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster but Walsh was on board when the horse was third in the Racing Post Chase.

"I've been looking forward to it for a while. I had a sneaky feeling Ruby would pick My Will and I love my fellow," said Williams.

"I finished second on my first ride in the National and I just love this horse.

"Every time I ride him I like him, he's just a likeable horse."

Willie Mullins saddles two runners in the race, with last year's third Snowy Morning set to be ridden by Andrew McNamara for the first time.

"Snowy Morning ran nicely at Fairyhouse in very heavy ground which I think he probably doesn't enjoy nowadays. I took a lot out of that race that he was coming back to himself," said Mullins.

"This race hasn't really been the plan for Irish Invader but we thought he deserved an entry and after talking to the owners we thought we'd have a crack at it."

Paul Townend is in dreamland as he approaches his first ever ride in the John Smith's Grand National.

The 18-year-old is regarded as the find of the season in Ireland and only made his debut on the racecourse in 2007.

The youngster rides for Mullins and will get the leg-up on Irish Invader.

"I've walked the course and seen the Chair – my God," said Townend.

"I think it's all going over my head really.

"When I started on the Flat things went well enough, but when I started riding over jumps it just took off.

"I've been given the horses. If any of the lads had got the horses, they could be riding the winners.

"I'm just grateful."

Charlie Swan's Offshore Account is not without talent but has only recently returned from a long-term injury.

"Obviously, I would have liked to have run him a chase but I didn't get the chance," said Swan.

"He's schooling nicely at home over National-type fences and he is a good jumper.

"He's jumped really well over the fences we've had built for him.

"He's won on a Grade One on good ground at Punchestown.

"He's a half-brother to The Listener, he's in good order and I'm very happy with him.

"If he jumps well and gets a clear passage he'd definitely have a chance."

Robert Thornton has picked up one of McCoy's cast-offs in the shape of Enda Bolger's L'Ami, second in the cross-country race at the Cheltenham Festival.

L'Ami was also the horse which ended Mick Fitzgerald's career in last year's National.

"I am looking forward to it. I have known I was riding one for JP McManus for a while and this one has a good weight," said Thornton.

"He will be well schooled and has jumped everything – hedges, banks, gates, you name it.

"I'll really just plan to hunt round for the first circuit and take it from there."