A RACEHORSE owner hopes to have double cause for celebration this weekend – as he asks his hometown to get behind his Grand National runner.

Escaria Ten, owned by Blackburn businessman Max McNeill and his family, could bring unbridled joy to connections and the people of East Lancashire with a strong finish around the nation’s most anticipated race at Aintree this afternoon.

The McNeill family’s blue, red and white silks have become a frequent sight at racecourses across the country over the last two decades – but a win over four miles and two-and-a-half furlongs in the calendar’s biggest fixture would top the rest, said Mr McNeill, who originally hails from Pleasington.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Escaria Ten ridden in the red, blue and white silks of the McNeill family.

And the weekend could bring double celebrations for the businessman if his beloved Blackburn Rovers manage to bag three points against rivals Blackpool.

Such is his love for the club that over the years his horses have raced under names that have given a hat-tip to his team – including Shearer and Ewood Park.

Speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph prior to the race, Mr McNeill said: “Growing up, my father Ted was a professional at Pleasington Golf Club and he was also a huge racing and Blackburn Rovers fan.

"When we weren’t at the game we were watching racing on the TV – it was in black and white back then.

“I remember when we first went racing, by this point I was around 12 and we had moved to Scotland.

"From there on in I always had a keen interest and knew one day that I wanted to have my own racehorse.”

That day came in 2005 when Mr McNeill first got involved in ownership with a horse named Jackella, named after his two children.

Since then the family have bought, put into training and won races with a string of successful horses – some of which are trained by the biggest names in the industry.

They include Alan King, Paul Nicholls, Willie Mullins and Escaria Ten’s trainer Gordon Elliot, who has eight starters in today’s big race.

The eight-year-old bay gelding was beaten by just a nose in his most recent race by Any Second Now, who he’ll meet again at 5.15pm alongside firm favourites Snow Leopardess and last year’s winner Minella Times.

However this isn’t the family’s first foray into Grand National territory, with their horse WalkOn entered in 2014 and making it around 29 fences before he was pulled up by jockey Wayne Hutchinson.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Max McNeill at the races. Credit: McNeill Family Twitter

Escaria Ten, to be ridden by Adrian Heskin, is well-favoured among punters and looks sure to give his supporters a huge run for their money with market odds currently placing the horse at around 20/1.

Speaking about the big race, Mr McNeill said: “It’s a special thing having a horse entered in the National – it’s the race that catches the public’s imagination.

“It’s a day like no other – almost everyone in the country knows how big it is, even those who aren’t into racing.

“I try not to think about the winning because I think that would be foolhardy. The first thing we all want is for him to get round in one piece. Anything can happen in a race with 40 runners.

“The most nerve-wracking thing about it will be the first few fences, but you’ve got to try and get into a good rhythm and a contending position.

“We’re just going to enjoy having an exciting prospect in the running and hope that he’ll get round safely.”

Lancashire Telegraph:

Mr McNeill in the winner's enclosure with Tamar, a horse he part-owns.

While Mr McNeill and his family are now based in Reading, he still has connections to East Lancashire and makes every effort to watch Rovers whenever he can.

The Grand National will be shown on ITV 1 with coverage starting at 2pm and the big race getting underway at 5.15pm.