THREE Fenland businessmen are praying for the perfect day out on Saturday as their racehorse prepares to bid for glory on Grand National Day at Aintree.

Hibiki, owned by Trevor Dear and Sean Brown, from March, and Adrian Douglas, formerly of March, has been declared to run in the Handicap Hurdle - the race after the Grand National which holds prize money of �40,000.

The field will be confirmed later this week - but Mr Dear, who works for Greenvale AP, said he is hopeful that the 7-year-old bay gelding will qualify to race.

“It will be a tough ask at a high profile and highly competitive meeting,” he said. “But to be at the pinnacle of national hunt racing and to race in our colours will be an ambition in itself for all of us.

“If Hibiki doesn’t qualify then he will possibly run at Cheltenham again or Sandown in April and then we can plan our attack for May.

“It is very exciting and we are all praying he stays sound and qualifies for entry. By watching him race at places like Cheltenham, Ascot and Aintree, we really are living the dream.”

Hibiki, who has won three jumps and three flat races in his career, is trained by Sarah Humphrey at West Wratting, near Newmarket.

He finished a disappointing 13th in his last race at Cheltenham in December, with the soft ground not suiting him.

Mr Dear added: “It will be a tough test. But you never know - anything could happen.”