On the one day the world tunes in to jump racing, the sport itself is holding its breath.
Worldwide, 600 million people watch the Grand National on the year's biggest day for betting in Britain. But all at Aintree know any further equine deaths this afternoon, to add to four in the last two Nationals, would raise serious questions about its future.
It comes after a horse died in the run up to this year's event on Friday.
They have made changes here.
Most fences now have more horse-friendly plastic inner cores.
The start has been moved 90 yards away from the noisy grandstands, in the hope of a calmer atmosphere. That also means a shorter run to the first fence, giving less time to build up foolhardy early speed.
The authorities have talked to senior jockeys, urging them not to set a breakneck pace from the start.
But as even Jamie Stier from the British Horseracing Authority acknowledged on Sky News on Friday, it is unreasonable to expect a jockey not to be wound-up at the start of "this iconic race".
It always delivers a storyline, even if last year's – the closest-ever finish – was partly buried by headlines about fatalities.
This year's story could be the first female winning jockey. Katie Walsh on Seabass – third 12 months ago – could start favourite on the horse trained by her father Ted.
So could Ted's other horse Colbert Station, in the hands of champion jockey Tony McCoy. And so could Katie's brother Ruby on On His Own, bidding for his third National victory.
And if the siblings should be fighting out the finish, it'll be dog-eat-dog with no quarter given.
There's also another possible line for the fairer sex. Much-fancied Teaforthree is trained by Rebecca Curtis, 30 years after the first success for Jenny Pitman – the only other woman to train the winner of the world's greatest steeplechase.
Teaforthree likes his own bed and is travelling today from Pembrokeshire. There hasn't been a Welsh winner since 1905.
Then again, it's only four years since Mon Mome won at 100-1. Might Tarquinius, for example, or Major Malarkey, triumph at a similar price today? Stranger things have happened – and something strange always does happen.
That's why we always watch, and that's why all will hope that all 40 horses are safely in their beds – in Wales or wherever – tonight.
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