Island businessman Trevor Hemmings could be on course for a record-breaking fourth victory as an owner in the Aintree Grand National.

He believes Cloth Cap holds the best chance of the three horses he hopes to run in the world’s most famous steeplechase.

He has previously struck Aintree gold with Hedgehunter (2005), Ballabriggs (2011) and Many Clouds (2015).

Speaking from his base at the Ballaseyr stud in the north of the island near Andreas he told the Manx Independent that if he did win the big race on Saturday, April 10, then the island should consider changing the Three Legs of Man to the Four Legs of Man.

The 85-year old racing enthusiast maintained that ’all roads lead to Aintree’.

The Jonjo O’Neill-trained Cloth Cap is a leading National contender. The horse scooped victory in the Ladbrokes Trophy (formerly the Hennessy at Newbury in November.) On a rating of 148, the nine-year-old is on a weight of 10st 5lb - and bookies were quoting prices of around 16 to one earlier this week.

Mr Hemmings could also be represented by Lake View Lad, trained by Nick Alexander in Scotland and Deise Aba, trained by Philip Hobbs.

The race was cancelled last year because of Covid-19, but it is all systems go for the 2021 renewal.

Mr Hemmings said that Kathryn Revitt, who looks after his many business interests, came up with the name Cloth Cap.

He said: ’I’ve around a dozen cloth caps but my favourite has been to each of the Grand Nationals. It is looking a bit threadbare now and it has a hole in it.’

Mr Hemmings also told the Manx Independent that he has received his first injection and is looking forward to his second jab at the end of this month.

He said: ’I highly recommend everyone has the jab, stay alive and have the injection.’