JOHN KIELY
Carlingford Lough (11st 10lb)
“That’s interesting. The owner (J.P. McManus) and Frank Berry (his racing manager) will decide but I don’t think it would be likely he’d run. The Gold Cup is his main aim and the horse is in good form.”
OLIVER SHERWOOD
Many Clouds (11st 9lb)
“I haven’t had a runner in the National for ages, but 11st 9lb seems fair enough. Whether he’s going to run will depend on Cheltenham. I think it will be unlikely unless something happens in the Gold Cup. On ratings I thought Many Clouds was the highest-rated horse, so I don’t know why he’s got 1lb less than the top weight (Carlingford Lough).”
MOUSE MORRIS
First Lieutenant (11st 3lb)
“He’s only put us up 1lb but those above us seem to be better off, if they run. I think he’s a real National horse, so he’ll definitely go. He’s such a good jumper.”
ROBBIE HENNESSY
Rubi Light (10st 9lb)
“I couldn’t say what the exact plan is at this moment, he could go to Thurles next week and then for a handicap at Cheltenham. He’ll have an entry in the Topham and we’ll make our minds up nearer the time. You never know if they are going to stay that far until you try. We’ve freshened him up and he lives outside now, he’s never in a stable, and that seems to suit him. I was happy with him the last day and while he’s not as good as he was, he was in no-man’s land for a while with his rating but he has a chance again now.”
KEITH REVELEY
Night In Milan (10st 9lb)
“Perfect. As long as one of the top ones stay in we’ll stay below 11st and that was the sort of weight I was thinking of, which means James (Reveley) can ride him at a comfortable weight. He’s in great form at the moment, he’ll go for the Grimthorpe a week on Saturday and that gives him a month to recover which is just what he likes between his races. Even at nine he could still be improving and while he’s not that well handicapped we know he is capable of competing off his mark. It’s all about having a go, the owner is keen and the game is all about races likes this.”
ROBERT WALEY-COHEN
Oscar Time (10st 5lb)
“Obviously Oscar Time at the age of 14 will enjoy having as little weight as possible. He ran in the veterans’ chase at Doncaster on Wednesday and will now go straight to Aintree. The intention is just to keep him mentally and physically sharp. He’s in very good form.”
NEIL MULHOLLAND
The Druids Nephew (10st 9lb)
“I’d be very happy with that. It’s a nice weight and he’s got a month to recover after Cheltenham, so he’ll probably run. He’ll go for the three-mile handicap on the Tuesday and he’s in real good order, he might even be stronger. He’s unexposed at staying trips, he ran a cracker at Cheltenham behind Sam Winner and then the Hennessy came too soon.”
PETER BOWEN
Al Co (10st 8lb)
“That looks okay. He’ll definitely run, it’s what we have trained him for all year. I’ll probably give him one run beforehand, possibly over hurdles. He should get the trip as he’s won a Scottish National, and he had a spin over the fences in the Becher and he seemed to take to them, the ground was just too soft. All we need is for it to dry up and he should run well.”
HENRY DE BROMHEAD
Home Farm (11st 2lb)
“It sounds a nice weight. He seems good at the moment. We’ve just given him the entry at this stage.”
JIM CULLOTY
Lord Windermere (11st 10lb) and Spring Heeled (10st 12lb)
“Lord Windermere is Gold Cup-bound. I am very happy with him and his run the other day. We have made the entry in the Grand National in case he is beaten seven or eight lengths in the Gold Cup and is not quite good enough. We would then like to consider the Grand National which he would be suited to in many ways. He jumps very well, he stays very well and he loves yielding ground.
“We are training Spring Heeled for the Grand National. He ran in the bet365 Chase at the end of last season and did extremely well, staying on strongly to take fifth after looking he might be tailed off. He should stay, though you never quite know with nearly four and a half miles, and he jumps extremely well but what he doesn’t do is act on soft ground at all. You can write him off on very soft ground. He is light-framed and we have kept him fresh. He is going to run on Saturday at Fairyhouse. The ground may be too soft for him at Fairyhouse but there are only six entries so it is the obvious place for him. If he runs okay, I will probably send him straight to Aintree.
KAREN McLINTOCK
Carlito Brigante (10st 10lb)
“I’m quite happy with that. I was hoping he’d be under 11st so that’s nice. We are focusing on running him in the National. He’ll have one run before then, probably at either Doncaster (in the Grimthorpe Chase) or Kelso (a two-mile, seven-furlong listed race) at the end of February. He’ll have time to recuperate from a race then before the National. He likes the good ground and seems happy in himself. He comes off a break well.”
ALAN KING
Godsmejudge (10st 8lb)
“It’s what we expected. He is well and I’m working backwards from the National. He’s in at Kempton (in Saturday’s BetBright Chase). He might go there. He wants two more runs before the National. He’s only had the one run this season. If we can get a run into him in the next few days or the next week or so you’ll only need one more and then he’ll be going there ready.”
FERGAL O’BRIEN
Alvarado (10st 3lb)
“Alvarado had a hard race last year and the Ruckers (Angela and William, owners) decided to give him a big break. We were hoping to run him on Cheltenham trials day but he got a little back injury, hopefully we have put that right. (Alvarado finished a modest fifth in a veterans’ chase at Doncaster on Wednesday, his first run since the 2014 Grand National.)
TOM GEORGE
Saint Are (10st 6lb)
“Saint Are is a very good horse that lost his way and I don’t know what happened over the summer, but so far what we have seen has been good and it has all gone to plan. He seems to have that sparkle back. Catterick would not have been his favourite track and he needed to win like he did (last Monday) to get in. He has won twice around Aintree before and he has run well in the Becher Chase, so I don’t think the extra distance will be a problem.”
DR RICHARD NEWLAND
Pineau De Re (11st), Royale Knight (10st 2lb)
“The plan was always for Pineau De Re to come back again. It is obviously an impossibly difficult challenge as no horse has won back-to-back for over 40 years. He will go to the Pertemps Final again at Cheltenham and hopefully can run well. I have told Leighton Aspell that Pineau De Re is his ride if he wants it.
Royale Knight is very different in that he has improved a lot and stays long distances. He has won the Durham National and we thought why not give it a chance. He is an incredible horse in that when he arrived at my yard he was rated 85 but has just kept improving.
JONJO O’NEILL
Shutthefrontdoor (11st 2lb), Sunnyhillboy (10st 8lb), Burton Port (10st 5lb) and Merry King (10st 5lb)
“Shutthefrontdoor is in grand form. He had an abscess after he ran at Carlisle where the ground was really bad. He may go to Cheltenham. He stays and jumps well. He is in great order and seems to be going the right way. I thought the handicapper might have dropped him a bit for A.P. but we will have to put up with it. Merry King and Burton Port have nice racing weights.”
PHILIP HOBBS
Balthazar King (11st 2lb), Chance Du Roy (10st 4lb), Gas Line Boy (10st 4lb) and Duke Of Lucca (10st 2lb)
Sarah Hobbs said: “Balthazar King is in very good form and Philip wants him fresh for the race so he is not going to run at Cheltenham. Last year he did, when he won the Cross Country, but this year we are going to leave it. He won in France and at Cheltenham in December and is in very good form at home.
“I don’t think Gas Line Boy will run as he jumped so poorly last time. Chance Du Roy was sixth last year and has a nice weight, he will run again all being well. Duke Of Lucca will run in the Cross Country at Cheltenham and we will see how he gets on.”
PAUL NICHOLLS
Sam Winner (11st 8lb), Unioniste (11st 6lb), Rocky Creek (11st 3lb), Rolling Aces (11st 3lb), Rebel Rebellion (10st 12lb), Mon Parrain (10st 11lb), Benvolio (10st 8lb)
“Unioniste could be a National horse. Ruby Walsh always said to me that this horse could be the next real Aintree candidate. He has lots of experience even though he is only a seven-year-old as he was going round Auteuil when he was three and won the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham when he was four. He stays, jumps and is a real candidate. Aintree should suit him.
“Rocky Creek was fifth last year and ran very well. It has always been the plan to come back. He ran no race in the Hennessy and you can put a line through that run. He could go to Kempton or Cheltenham.
Rolling Aces ran well off top-weight in the Grand Sefton, staying on strongly. He is in on Saturday. He wouldn’t want it too soft and could be aimed at Aintree. It all went wrong with Benvolio at Haydock on Saturday, he just never really travelled.
“Sam Winner stays well and could be an interesting contender if he runs well in the Gold Cup.”
OLIVER SHERWOOD
Many Clouds (11st 9lb)
“The Gold Cup is the aim for Many Clouds. If something happened in the Gold Cup, like if he fell or got brought down early, he could go for the National. If not this year, it certainly could be next year.
“My record in the National as a trainer has been pretty poor but I did complete as a rider!”
MICHAEL SCUDAMORE
Monbeg Dude (10st 7lb)
“He has run well this year to finish fourth in the Hennessy and Welsh National and was third at Haydock on Saturday, so I am pleased he has less weight than last year. He was entered in a couple of the handicaps at Cheltenham this week so we will just sit down and see if go down that route. He has come out of Haydock very well.”
WILLIE MULLINS
Boston Bob (11st 7lb), Back In Focus (10st 13lb), Ballycasey (10st 13lb), Prince De Beauchene (10st 6lb)
Patrick Mullins said: “Back In Focus won the four-miler at Cheltenham so he stays very well. He missed last season because of injury and it was his first run back at the weekend. He ran well but got tired at the end. The Grand National will suit him and we just need to keep him in one piece between now and then. I think he is the most likely ride for Ruby (Walsh).
“I have had one ride in the Grand National and would love to go again - it would be an absolute dream. Prince De Beauchene is owned by myself and seven friends. He was a bit disappointing first time in the race (the Grand National) last year. I wanted him to get more weight (than 10st 6lb) as I would like to ride him.
“Boston Bob won at Aintree last season so he obviously likes the track - he is a real spring horse and goes for the Gold Cup first. There is a question mark about whether Ballycasey will quite stay and the Topham may be a more realistic aim for him. They are both entered and we will know more after Cheltenham.”
EMMA LAVELLE
Shotgun Paddy (10st 10lb) and Court By Surprise (10st 3lb)
“Court By Surprise is our main hope. We entered Shotgun Paddy just in case we had an incredibly wet Aintree and there were Red Marauder-type conditions. Court By Surprise has been aimed at the race. He has always looked like a nice horse at home. He once struck into himself at Warwick and was sore which took a long time to come right. This year he has really pulled it together and he won well at Exeter and in controversial circumstances also won the Badger Beer at Wincanton. He is best when fresh so he has had a big holiday and we are just getting going with him again. There is a chance we will go to Newbury for a veterans’ chase on February 28th but I would not mind going straight to Aintree. He is basically a very straightforward horse to train at home - he is very clean-winded so he does not take masses of work.”
NICKY HENDERSON
Rajdhani Express (11st 4lb), Hadrians Approach (11st)
“At the end of last season, after Hadrian’s Approach won the bet365 at Sandown, I would have said no way would we be going for the Grand National. His jumping technique was not good enough but for some reason this season he looks very professional with his jumping and very accurate. I don’t want too much watering at Aintree because he is terribly ground dependent. He loves really good ground.
“Rajdhani Express has problems qualifying for the National as it stands - he is yet to be placed over three miles. We are going to switch him to Kempton this weekend and he has to finish in the first four in a three-mile chase. We want to get him eligible for the Grand National and then see.”
WARREN GREATREX
Dolatulo (10st 11lb)
“Dolatulo won well at Wetherby on his most recent chase start. I ran him in the Grand Sefton at Aintree over the National fences in December and Denis O’Regan came back and said the trip was too short. Last season Dolatulo almost ran every week and, in the back of my mind, I thought he was a bit of a quirky horse who stays very well and jumps very well, so the Grand National could just be the race for him. He does not like doing the same thing every day, which is why we are running him over hurdles at the moment. He is qualified for the Pertemps Final over hurdles at Cheltenham and a far better trainer than me, Dr Richard Newland, used that race last year (to prepare Pineau De Re) and hopefully we can follow suit. We want to keep Dolatulo fresh.”