Taaffe targets Aintree pickings

Barry Geraghty teamed up with his John Smith's Grand National mount Slim Pickings over some Aintree-type fences at Tom Taaffe's yard in preparation for the big race on Saturday week.

Slim Pickings, a 100-1 chance, will be Taaffe's first runner in the world's greatest steeplechase, while Geraghty will be bidding for a second success after Monty's Pass scored in 2003.

The eight-year-old, previously with Robert Tyner, was having his second start for the County Kildare-based handler when fifth behind Idole First in the Racing Post Plate at Cheltenham last month.

Taaffe, whose late father Pat twice tasted Aintree glory as a jockey on Quare Times in 1955 and Gay Trip in 1970, said: 'Slim Pickings is bang on course for the John Smith's Grand National and is in super form. He has come out of Cheltenham terribly well.

'This morning he schooled over some Aintree-type fences under Barry Geraghty, who will ride him in the National. We'll only find out on the day if he'll enjoy the big fences, but he strikes me as the type who will enjoy the track at Aintree.

'The trip is another thing that we won't know about until we try it, but I am hopeful on that score.'