Grand National 2019 preview and odds: Gloucestershire man and his friends pay huge six-figure sum for 100/1 outsider

The prestige of having a runner in the Grand National has reached new heights, as two horses have been sold for £335,000 just 48 hours before the race.

Gigginstown duo Don Poli and Outlander were guaranteed a run in Saturday's £1 million Randox Health-backed contest, which proved tempting to bidders at Thursday's Goffs Aintree Sale.

Despite the chasers not being in the best of form, the lure of the world's most famous race couldn't be resisted by Darren Yates, who had already splashed out £300,000 on Blaklion only for him to be sidelined by injury.

He will have a second bite of the cherry with Don Poli, sold for £170,000 in the ring, while £165,000 was the purchase price of his former stablemate.

Outlander will represent Richard Spencer and the Gowing's Eleven syndicate, which operates under the banner of Rebel Racing Ltd.

The trainer, best known for the exploits of Rajasinghe at Royal Ascot in 2017, said it is not all about the weekend for the 11-year-old chaser.

"Outlander was the one we wanted," said Spencer, an ex-point-to-point rider originally from Wormington.

"We were fortunate to get him. He has a good profile and several options going forward.

"I think he's value considering some horses with one point-to-point win can fetch £400,000 or thereabouts.

"We are thinking beyond tomorrow, possibly the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris at Auteuil and next year's cross country chase at Cheltenham.

"It's very exciting to have a horse like him."

Spencer, 30, took out a training licence in 2016 and he has a handful of National Hunt horses.

Hunter chaser Sir Jack Yeats has already finished a creditable sixth for the team at Aintree this week and they will be delighted if the new acquisition can do similar.

Although Outlander is now in the veteran stage, he has three Grade Ones to his name, including a defeat of Don Poli in the 2016 Lexus Chase at Leopardstown.

"Hopefully he will give us some fun," Spencer added.

"He's stayed up at Aintree and a member of my team has ridden him out this morning.

"The owners decided they would like James Bowen on board, as he has ridden for them before."

Spencer started his career in racing as a teenager by working for Bowen's trainer father Peter in West Wales.

The young jockey takes over from Keith Donoghue, who missed out on riding 2018 winner Tiger Roll due to the weight.

Instead he finished eighth on the Henry de Bromhead-trained Valseur Lido.

Both horses have been declared in tomorrow's field of 40, with Just A Par claiming the final spot at the last minute after Mall Dini picked up a leg injury.