CHARLIE Longsdon is quietly confident Pendra can prove bookmakers wrong and put up a bold show in Saturday’s Crabbie’s Grand National.

The Chipping Norton trainer will saddle a horse in the world’s greatest steeplechase for the third time when the eight-year-old lines up at Aintree.

Longsdon’s other two runners in the race both fell, but he is in no doubt Pendra is by far his best-quality animal to take part.

Although generally available as a 66-1 shot, the trainer feels his charge is more than capable of defying his odds.

“He’s the best I have run in the race by a long shot,” said Longsdon.

“And if you look at what the horse has done, I actually think he is overpriced.”

The trainer added: “I couldn’t be happier with him.

“He won a big race (the Sodexo Gold Cup Handicap Chase) at Ascot in October and was going well when making a bad mistake in his next run.

“Everything has gone well in his preparations and now it’s a case of keeping everything crossed and hope things go well in the race.”

The primary aim for Longsdon is to see Pendra, who will be ridden by Aidan Coleman, complete the four-and-a-quarter-mile course.

The trainer saw Palypso De Creek come down four fences from home when well off the pace in 2010, while 100-1 shot Ely Brown crashed out at the first last year.

“Thanks for mentioning that,” Longsdon laughed.

“Obviously the main thing is horse and jockey come back safely, but the whole day is such an unbelievable occasion.

“It’s a very surreal experience having a runner in the national.

“When you are there, it is just such a buzz. Knowing how many people are watching it on TV all around the world – it is the greatest race and it’s so exciting to be a part of that.”