BELBROUGHTON couple Grahame and Diana Whateley are dreaming of Grand National glory.

The racehorse owners are set to run Rock The Kasbah in the famous contest next Saturday.

The nine-year-old son of Shirocco will line up at Aintree under champion jockey Richard Johnson for Minehead trainer Philip Hobbs.

Rock The Kasbah won at Cheltenham in November before a sixth-placed finish back at the same course in December when last in action.

However, Halesowen businessman Grahame is hopeful his chestnut gelding can give a good account of himself after being targeted at the 4m 2f race.

He said: "We've got our fingers crossed that everything goes to plan.

"He's very well and went for a racecourse gallop last week and he's as well as could be expected.

"He'll be carrying the same weight he had when winning at Cheltenham earlier in the season and more importantly he goes well fresh.

"We've deliberately saved him just for the Grand National and that has been our plan all along.

"He had a six to eight week break and we've then built him back up and we are all dreaming that he can run well.

"The ground looks like it will suit him, hopefully he takes to the fences and we think he should be able to get the distance.

"You never really know about the trip until you have tried but he was staying on well up the hill at Cheltenham last time."

On the prospect of adding their name to a historic list of previous winners, he added: "Myself and Diana would absolutely love it if we could win it. It's a huge ambition of ours and it'd be a dream come true.

"To think a trainer like Philip Hobbs and a champion jockey like Richard Johnson have never won it. We'd be so delighted for them more than anything.

"Richard has had such a wonderful career and what a story it would be for him to win it."