Synchronised has a great chance to land the Grand National today and become the first horse since Golden Miller in 1934 to win the Aintree marathon and Cheltenham Gold Cup in the same season.

In doing so he would give trainer Jonjo O’Neill, who never won the race during his stellar riding career, owner JP McManus and jockey Tony McCoy their second win in the great race in the last three editions.

The nine-year-old gelding gate-crashed the Gold Cup in March as he had favourite and defending champion Long Run behind in third while the people’s favourite Kauto Star was pulled up on the first circuit.

Despite being burdened with top weight Synchronised will not be opposed by horses of the calibre he saw off at Cheltenham. Nevertheless, the challenge is still a stiff one with a classy field of 39 rivals – including last year’s winner Ballabriggs – and the most intimidating 30 fences he will have jumped in his career so far.

Ironically, O’Neill suffered one of his worst moments as a jockey in the 1979 Grand National when he partnered Alverton a month after they had landed the Gold Cup only for the Irishman’s horse to suffer a fatal fall.

However, McCoy, whose triumph on Don’t Push It in 2010 ended years of frustration in the Grand National, is confident that his mount has recovered well enough from the Gold Cup.

“Jonjo is pretty happy with him so we’ll have to see. I’m looking forward to it,” said McCoy.

Aside from Golden Miller only one other horse has achieved the double, though Irish runner L’Escargot did it in different years, winning the Gold Cup on two successive occasions in 1970-71 and beating the incomparable Red Rum in the 1975 National.

Red Rum’s outspoken trainer Ginger McCain passed away last September and there will probably not be a dry eye on the course should Ballabriggs retain his title as he is trained by his son Donald.

Should he win, he would be the first horse since Red Rum (in 1973-74) to win the race in successive years.