She will be on one of the market leaders for the race – a far cry from when Charlotte Brew became the first lady rider to have a crack at the marathon contest on Barony Fort back in 1977.

She was sent off an unconsidered 200-1 chance and failed to finish.

Geraldine Rees rode 66-1 chance Cheers when she became the first woman to complete the race in 1982, while Rosemary Henderson, the last female to try in 1994, finished fifth on 100-1 chance Fiddlers Pike.

Ford was propelled into the public eye at this meeting last year when she rode Forest Gunner to claim the Fox Hunters’ Chase over the big fences just 10 weeks after she had given birth to her daughter Hannah.

The 33-year-old decided to hang up her boots after that success, but the lure of a ground-breaking victory in the £700,000 (€1m) race proved irresistible.

“I don’t feel any extra pressure, but I know I’m going to be the shortest-priced woman rider to go off in the Grand National,” she said.

“With the race so close now, things are becoming more real and I’m feeling a mix of emotions. I suppose there are some nerves, but there’s also some anticipation and we’re all feeling very positive about it.

“I came out of retirement just to ride in this race so win, lose or draw, I had a shot at it, even if we were to come down at the first.”

It hasn’t been an easy road to Aintree for her, though, as she has had to work long and hard in preparation for her date with destiny.

Riding out every morning has formed the bulk of her training, interspersed with trips to the gym and the odd two or three-mile run.

“If I’m going racing or I’m looking after Hannah someone else rides Forest Gunner, but I rode out four or five lots throughout the winter and that has been the main part of my training,” Ford explained.

“Anyone will tell you that the best way to get fit for riding is to actually do it, but I have been doing some gym work as well and I have been trying to do some running too just to improve my fitness.”

Life has been pretty hectic for the Fords at Folly Farm in Cheshire in recent weeks.

“We have been inundated with calls from the press and TV,” she added. “We’re grateful for the interest and have tried to give everyone what they wanted, but it’s been hectic.”

Interest has been multiplied by Aintree legend Ginger McCain’s assertion that “horses do not win Grand Nationals ridden by women, that’s a fact”.

Despite the forthright trainer referring to her as a “broodmare”, Ford is surprisingly grateful for the uproar his comments caused.

She said: “I’ve had loads of support since all that was said. I’ve had people coming up to me at the racecourse, not just jockeys and owners but strangers as well, saying ‘good luck, go and put Ginger in his place’ and that really has given me a lot of confidence.

“We know it’s just Ginger being Ginger, though. Richard and I have both ridden for him in the past and I think his comments were a bit tongue-in-cheek, so we were not in the least bit offended by it, but it does still make me want to go out there and prove him wrong.”

Should she make history on Saturday and become the first woman to take the world’s greatest steeplechase, the victory will be due in part to an immense team effort.

Mrs Ford said: “It has been pretty frantic trying to keep up with everything, but I’ve had some great support from a local lady who comes in to look after Hannah during the day and from the family as well. I’ve been very, very lucky in that respect.”

One person who will not be at Aintree in person next week is little Hannah herself. Instead, she will be safely ensconced back at base camp awaiting - hopefully – a victorious return.

“Hannah will be at home on Saturday, partly through superstition as she wasn’t there for the Fox Hunters last year, but mainly because it would be too hard for me,” added the woman-of-the-moment.

“I would find it very difficult to focus if she was somewhere in the crowd, so I’ll give her her breakfast, kiss her goodbye in the morning and then see her when it’s all over.”