CONNECTIONS of Raz De Maree want stamina to come to the fore in the Randox Health Grand National on Saturday.

Winner of the Welsh National at Chepstow on his most recent outing in January, the 13-year-old forms part of a strong Irish challenge for the Aintree showpiece and trainer Gavin Cromwell is hoping his 13-year-old can go the early pace in the four-and-quarter-mile feature.

"They go off very quick and the key thing is whether he can stay in the race or not. As long as he doesn't get detached he'll be fine. He's very slow. But the more of a test of stamina it is the better because he doesn't know how to stop," Cromwell told the Irish Times.

"It comes down to each horse's enthusiasm, and soundness. Raz De Maree is a very sound horse. He's also relatively lightly raced and he's still very enthusiastic. We seem to be getting a good old tune out of him. He's definitely as good now as I've ever had him. But I can't put it down to anything beyond that."