Wedding gift could culminate in Flintoff savouring National success at Aintree

The former Test cricketer will be among 80,000 racegoers at Aintree today to see if the eponymously-named Flintoff, the horse he co-owns with businessman Paul Beck, can win the world's greatest steeplechase

He has also put the long-held Lancashire and Yorkshire Roses rivalry to one side by handing the riding responsibilities to Andrew Tinkler, the 24-year-old Malton jockey embarking on his fifth National ride.

A fan of Twenty20 cricket, where Flintoff excels, Tinkler cannot wait to meet this sporting icon, who is flying to Merseyside from Dubai where he has been recovering from a career-threatening injury

It caps a memorable season for Tinkler – his most successful to date – and ends a week of uncertainty about whether he would ride in the race.

Tentative arrangements were put in place a week ago when he rode a Beck-owned horse at Haydock, but he then had to wait until Thursday for confirmation that the nine-year-old – trained by last year's winning handler Venetia Williams – had made the

40-runner cut.

Unlike Flintoff, who has been known to begin his innings with a bang, Tinkler knows that he will have to ride a waiting race with tactics more akin to the Geoffrey Boycott school of batting on this side of the Pennines.

"He's a lazy horse," said Tinkler, below, who spent one afternoon watching re-runs of the Midlands, Scottish and Irish Nationals where the horse has finished second, third and sixth previously.

"There will be plenty of horses for him to pass on the second circuit but Aintree might just inspire him if he gets into a rhythm.

"I went to Venetia's on Thursday and sat on him. His best mile will definitely be the last mile, and Venetia gives you confidence after training the winner last year.

"I've not ridden for her before, but have a good rapport with

Mr Beck through George Baker, one of my trainers, and it's the race every jockey dreams of winning."

Beck cannot wait. "Freddie is flying back. We wouldn't miss this for the world. I gave him half the horse, who was then four, when he got married. It could turn out to be a 250,000 wedding present by tonight."

Fifty years after Merryman II was the race's last Yorkshire-trained winner, the county is represented by John Quinn's heavily-fanced Character Building – the injury-prone grey and mount of Nina Carberry, who is attempting to become the first female jockey to win the race.

They are joined by Paul Murphy's Cerium, fifth last year and a late call-up yesterday after two withdrawals.

"I couldn't be happier with him now he's in the race," said the Coverdale trainer.

He will be hoping for better luck than his father Ferdy whose stable star Kalahari King emerged unscathed from a crashing second fence fall in yesterday's Melling Chase – the feature race on day two of the Aintree festival. The contest was won by the Jonjo O'Neill-trained Albertas Run.

In other news, Richmond-based Brian Hughes warmed up for his first National ride on Beat The Boys by winning the Topham Trophy over the National fences on Always Waining. He will not be fazed by the big day.

Meanwhile The Package, the mount of Yorkshire jockey Graham Lee, was the best backed horse last night, but most of the attention will, inevitably be on Tony McCoy as he attempts to break his National jinx at the 15th attempt – and his great friend Ruby Walsh, twice a winner, who rides the favourite Big Fella Thanks.

Your guide to the course, the runners and riders, and all the latest news from Aintree: Pages 24-25.