LAST year's winning Grand National owner Norman Mason heads from his County Durham stables to Aintree today hoping lightning strikes twice.

Although the 2001 hero Red Marauder, a 33-1 winner in last April's Aintree epic, is unfit to run due to a lingering tendon problem in a foreleg, Mason and his wife Dorothy are pinning their hopes on the gelding's half-brother and stablemate at Brancepeth Manor Farm, Red Ark.

The nine-year-old chestnut is considered a better jumper than Red Marauder and also prefers faster ground.

He was only withdrawn in favour of his elder half-brother due to the heavy going last year.

Should, as expected, conditions remain dry Mason, the country's leading permit trainer in recent years, believes Red Ark, a 40-1 shot in the early betting, will prove a value-for-money each-way flutter in this afternoon's four-mile four-furlong race.

"He's the horse we were counting on last year until the conditions worsened,'' he admitted. "It looks like it will be fast ground so it should suit him and he's a good jumper who's in good condition."

Red Ark will be guided round the Aintree course by Kenny Johnson, Mason's stable jockey, while assistant trainer Richard Guest, who rode Red Marauder to victory last year, is on board North Yorkshire fancy Paris Pike.

The Masons tasted modest success on the first day of the Grand National meeting on Thursday, when their other Aintree entry, Mr Bossman, was steered to a 7-1 third-place finish by Richard Guest in the Martell Novices' Handicap Chase.

Both had earlier dined as guests of meeting sponsor Cognac producer Martell as reigning National champion owners. They will return for lunch before the big race today as guests of Aintree course chairman Lord Daresbury.

Meanwhile bookmakers are bracing themselves for the biggest ever betting bonanza today.

This is the first Grand National since the removal of betting tax late last year, following the Budget of 2001.

Austin Carney, co-owner of County Durham bookmakers Reuben Page, said it will be a case of "all hands on deck" at the firm's 11 shops.

"It's going to be very busy, but there'll be a great atmosphere in the shops.

"There's something special about Grand National day, both for the punters and the staff.

"With the removal of the betting tax we're expecting to be busier than ever. People are now getting value for money for their bets."

Carney expects a big North-East gamble on Red Ark, but believes the winner will come from the favoured Beau, Ad Hoc, Blowing Wind, David's Lad or Paris Pike, with Niki Dee, Lyreen Wonder, Smarty and Supreme Charm good outside chances.