Monbeg Dude is reportedly in tip-top shape as he bids to reclaim his Coral Welsh Grand National crown at Chepstow on Saturday.
Michael Scudamore's stable star had his finest hour in this race in the 2012-13 season, but he was not asked to defend his title last Christmas.
The marathon handicap chase is back on the agenda this time and Monbeg Dude staked his claim with a mighty run in the Hennessy at Newbury, when he made eyecatching late progress to take fourth place behind Many Clouds.
"He's come out of his last race in great form," said the Ross-on-Wye trainer.
"We thought he might have been a bit tired, but he was jumping and kicking and everything has gone smoothly since.
"He had an easy 10 days after the race and then slipped back into his normal routine."
Scudamore pointed towards another crack at the Monmouthshire showpiece as having been the major aim this season for the nine-year-old.
He told At The Races: "The Welsh National was always pretty much the plan. As a group of owners, we sat down at the beginning of the year and all roads led to this day, really.
"He's won the race before and while he's carrying a lot more weight, he's going there in very good form, so we're hopeful."
The Richard Lee-trained Mountainous warmed up for back-to-back victories in the Welsh National with a spin in a three-mile handicap chase on this course three weeks ago.
"I think he may have even just improved a pound, maybe, so we're very happy with him," said Lee's daughter and assistant, Kerry.
Shotgun Paddy attempts to emulate Carvill's Hill in 1991 by carrying 11st 12lb to victory.
Emma Lavelle could not have the top weight in better shape following his pipe-opener over hurdles at Newbury four weeks ago.
The Andover handler said: "It's always a little bit disappointing to be carrying top weight in a race like this over that kind of trip on soft ground.
"But that's the handicapper telling us he's the best horse in the race and I'm hoping he's still fairly unexposed.
"He's in great order. He's straightforward, but he'll never blow you away on the gallops.
"He's not the quickest in the world, but he'll keep going at his own pace from bottom to top.
"We got a great pipe-opener into him at Newbury over hurdles. I didn't want to affect his chase mark.
"This has been the plan since he won his first novice hurdle at Chepstow two seasons ago. He's won over hurdles and over fences at Chepstow.
"It was always going to be the ideal plan for him because the ground is always on the slow side, which is what he needs, and at a trip and a proper test for his jumping."
Dan Downie, racing manager for owners the Axom syndicate, added: "He meets Midnight Prayer on worse terms than at Cheltenham when he just got beat, but we only ran him that day as it was four miles and we thought we might get away with it.
"The ground was too quick, it meant he had to rush his jumping, he was off the bridle a mile out yet still nearly won. It was a hell of an effort.
"He's the sort of horse who everyone knows what he is, he's not quick or flashy but hopefully that is a major plus in this race, you don't want something that pulls for the first mile or clears fences by two foot."
