FEW races are as much of an emotional roller-coaster as the John Smith’s Grand National. But Venetia Williams could be forgiven for being a little more emotional than most when Mon Mome bids to end her bad luck in the race this afternoon.

Her experiences of the Aintree marathon have not been too kind down the years.

She is one of 14 women to have ridden in the world’s greatest steeplechase, but her taste of the daunting obstacles ended six fences in at Becher’s Brook when 200-1 shot Marcolo came down.

And in 12 attempts as a trainer, the best she has managed was when General Wolfe came 12th behind winner Bobbyjo in 1999.

Last year she looked to have her best chance of ending that run, with the ill-fated ante-post favourite Nil Desperandum.

Having been fourth to Numbersixvalverde in 2006 and sixth the year before when trained in Ireland by Frances Crowley, the 10- year-old’s season was mapped around a return.

Williams said: “My best chance was last year with Nil Desperandum, who broke his foot in his prep race when favourite for the National and had to be put down. It was pretty devastating and what is particularly sad and rather poignant is that having lost Nil Desperandum in the build-up to the National last year, his owner, Michael Shone, sadly passed away a few days ago.”

But Williams will try to put that sadness behind her today and concentrate on trying to win the Grand National with Mon Mome. And the eight-year-old would seem to have the right credentials for success, having run well in several top staying chases in recent seasons.

A winner on National day two years ago when taking the John Smith’s Handicap Chase over the Mildmay fences, he was also second to Halcon Genelardais in last season’s Welsh National at Chepstow. Mon Mome was third to Heltornic in the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup at Haydock and fourth in the William Hill Trophy behind Joes Edge at the Cheltenham Festival – all contests seen as ideal trials for Aintree.

This season Mon Mome has had a lighter campaign with just three runs. A recent spin when third over hurdles was followed by an eye-catching staying sixth-place finish behind An Accordion in the William Hill Trophy Chase at Cheltenham. That run should have put him spot on for today.

Williams said: “He’s in good order. He is not a very big horse, he’s quite small really, so it will be a whole new experience for him. But he stays well and he deserves to take his chance. He ran well at Cheltenham and has come out of the race in good order. He was staying on at the end as he always does run his race. He stays well and has shown good form in races like the Welsh National, at Haydock and Cheltenham. We are hopeful that he can go well.”

She said: “Mon Mome won on Grand National day a couple of years ago and that was a good day, but it wasn’t over the National fences, so I doubt that will have any bearing on how he fares.”

Liam Treadwell will be on board Mon Mome today, but despite having ridden in the race herself Williams won’t be giving too much advice.

She said: “I only got as far as Becher’s, but after that year they levelled off the landing so that it wasn’t as much of a drop. But to compete in the race was a great experience. Jumping those big fences at speed is pretty exciting.

“But I would be the last person to give advice on how to ride round there. There is nothing really I can say.”

Being a woman trainer at this time means comparisons are naturally made with the former first lady of Aintree, Jenny Pitman.

She is still the only woman to train the winner of the National, having triumphed with Corbiere (1983) and Royal Athlete (1995).

But Williams shies away from any parallels and is just delighted to play a part in the Aintree meeting. She is as keen to land the big race as any other trainer.

She said: “It would be fantastic to win the race. It is not about being a female trainer or trying to emulate Jenny Pitman, because everybody who has a runner in the race is hoping to win it.

“I am just a trainer along with anyone else and it is the most valuable race in the country and the one everyone wants to win. I am no different, it would be wonderful to win it, but it is not easy.”