The first entry stage for the Grand National 2010 is a week today and this will be the day when the Grand National starts to come into focus of the majority of punters and, inevitably, a number of horses will get backed as a result.

So, for those of us who are mulling over all things Grand National based for a much longer period of the year, this final week before the entries should be an opportunity to make our knowledge count.

Of course, we have to take calculated risks as to which horses are actually going to be in the entries if we have a bet now but in some cases I would rather take that chance than be scrambling to get a price when the internet and paper tipsters decide they like the look of a horse you’ve been thinking of backing for ages. With that in mind I’d like to ask our knowledgable members to put forward two pre-entries tips – one at Grand National Odds of under 50/1 and a more speculative suggestion as to an outsider that we might consider.

If you had to have two bets now under these circumstances who would you go for and why? I’ll put up similar threads as we get further down the entry process and we can see how our tips develop but I’d really like some early value tips from those of you who are putting in so much work.

I will start things off with Big Fella Thanks and Gone To Lunch.

I’m not sure how many of the main fancies still have any room for improvement but that is not something you could say about Big Fella Thanks. I was very impressed with his run in the Grand National last year for a horse so young and with the benefit of another year’s experience he could well be the horse that ends the Paul Nicholls hoodoo.

My other selection, Gone To Lunch, has been suggested as being aimed at the Scottish National instead, a race he finished second in last year. This may be so but targets often change and at 100+ on the exchanges I think Gone To Lunch could well end up at Aintree but, if not, at those prices we will not have lost too much. If he performs well at Doncaster on Saturday his price could contract so perhaps he is worth a bet now? His stamina and consistent form on decent ground would make him very interesting if he were re-routed to Aintree.

I’ve seen Maljimar put forward as an outsider to consider by some of our contributors and I’d like to see if anyone believes his current price at around 85 represents any value? How about Siegemaster or Parsons Pistol? Anyone taking these Irish horses at big prices?

Please give details of two horses you think are good value in the current Grand National Odds, one at under 50/1 and another at 50/1 or above.