MORE than 150 friends and family of Crabbie’s Grand National-winning trainer Dr Richard Newland will be cheering on the two horses in Saturday’s showpiece at Aintree.

Newland’s 25-1 shot Pineau De Re, ridden by Daryl Jacob, will be aiming to repeat the memorable triumph 12 months ago in the world’s biggest steeplechase.

Newland’s other prospect is Royale Knight, a 33-1 chance, will be mounted by Brendan Powell.

Pineau De Re has run four times over hurdles this season without making the frame and is racing off an 8lb higher handicap rating.

But Newland said: “I am really excited about it. Ever since Pineau De Re won the National last year the plan was to go back to Aintree to see whether he could become the first horse in 40 years to win it again.

“Because of local interest and family interest I have got 150 people coming to the Grand National. We’re getting to the stage now where all the work has been done and, hopefully, nothing goes wrong on the day.

"I don’t know whether Pineau De Re will win it again but there’s been a lot of time planning and thinking about this so I am looking forward to him lining up on Saturday with Royale Knight.”

Success 12 months ago has not changed life’s routine for Newland, who describes his Grand National triumph as a ‘huge feather in the cap’.

“We are slightly bigger as a stable than we were 12 months ago but only very slightly,” he said.

“We train 25 horses a year but no more than 14 at one time.

Last year’s winning jockey Leighton Aspell will be riding Oliver Sherwood’s Many Clouds with Jacob mounting Pineau De Re.

Newland said: “Daryl has ridden him before and is a top jockey and has ridden lots of winners for us in the past. It’s a bit ironic that Leighton picked up the ride last year as a spare when someone else had to pull out so it’s turned full circle.”

He continued: “Twelve months ago, I thought Pineau had an outstanding chance in the National because he was coming off the back of a very strong run at Cheltenham. Last year, we didn’t know whether he could do the four-and-a-half miles but we do now.

“I think Pineau De Re is over-priced in the betting stakes. He’s a good each-way chance but I think he’s got a good very good chance of running a good race.”

Newland says the course conditions should suit.

“They are not very big horses and can handle a bit of cut but they wouldn’t want an absolute mud slog because that wouldn’t suit them,” he said, “I didn’t want deep ground and we won’t get it — so that’s another box ticked.”