A Bingley-trained racehorse is warming up to bid for glory on one of the biggest stages in the sporting world this weekend.

Millions of punters around the world are set to watch The Last Fling's efforts in Saturday's Grand National at Aintree.

Trained by Sue Smith, the wife of showjumping legend Harvey Smith, The Last Fling is currently being quoted at 25-1 by some bookies for the big Merseyside race and has already attracted a flurry of bets.

The Last Fling, owned by Lancashire-based millionaire Trevor Hemmings, is trained at stables in High Eldwick and is due to be ridden at the famous Aintree course by jockey Seamus Durack.

The 11-year-old, pictured with Mrs Smith, finished seventh in last year's National, and his trainer believes he can do even better this time round.

She said: "It's been an up-and-down year, what with the weather and foot-and-mouth disease.

"So we haven't had the opportunity to get him out very much since Christmas.

"But he's in very good form at the moment - he's a very versatile horse and providing the going's not too heavy we think he'll run a very strong race.

"He was the best-placed top-weighted horse last year, and providing nothing gets in our way this time I think he could do very well.

"All his hard work has been done now. We'll just be putting him over a jump or two here over the next couple of days before going to Aintree on Saturday.''

A spokesman for bookies Ladbroke's said The Last Fling's odds were currently 25-1, adding that the aptly-named horse had already attracted a number of bets.

He said: "Any 25-1 shot in the Grand National has got a great chance.

"Last year's winner Papillon started at even higher odds, and this year's race could be one of the widest open for a number of years.

"The Last Fling has attracted a bit of money already, bringing its price down from 33-1, and it has one of those sort of names which a lot punters will always go for.''