Willie Mullins, Henry de Bromhead, Gordon Elliott and others in the training ranks have their say on the weights assigned to their Grand National entries on Tuesday afternoon.
Trainer Willie Mullins – I Am Maximus (11st 12lb), Grangeclare West (11st 8lb), Nick Rockett (11st 8lb), Appreciate It (11st 2lb), Capodanno (11st 2lb), Minella Cocooner (11st 2lb), Meetingofthewaters (10st 7lb), Horantzau d’Airy (10st 6lb), Macdermott (10st 2lb), Spanish Harlem (9st 11lb)
"It’s top weight for I Am Maximus and it’s tough but we had an idea that it would be tough. He’ll probably run in the Bobbyjo and we’ll see how he is.
"I was very pleased with Grangeclare West’s run in the Irish Gold Cup and if he can put in a performance like that (he must have a chance). However, he paid the penalty by being raised in the weights so it’s going to be tougher, but he might take his chance in the National.
"I thought Nick Rockett was very good winning the Thyestes and that’s always a very good pointer towards the National, so hopefully he’ll take up the engagement.
"Appreciate It showed a nice change of form on nice ground in Thurles to win. Aintree ground is usually lovely so he has his chance and plenty of 11-year-olds have won in the recent past.
"Capodanno was running a good race last year (finished 16th). The handicapper’s given him a chance and he jumps those fences no problem so I’m happy enough.
"Minella Cocooner jumps well. He won the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown last year. It’s going to be a tough assignment to win another big handicap within the calendar year but he’ll take his chance.
"I think Meetingofthewaters has a lovely weight. He ran very well last year (finished seventh) and I think my eye was drawn to him when I saw his weight. He’s one I like."
Trainer Gordon Elliott – Conflated (11st 2lb), Delta Work (11st 2lb), Galvin (10st 13lb), Coko Beach (10st 9lb), Fil Dor (10st 9lb), Zanahiyr (10st 9lb), Minella Crooner (10st 5lb), Three Card Brag (10st 5lb), Duffle Coat (10st 4lb), Favori De Champdou (10st 3lb), Chemical Energy (10st 2lb), Stuzzikini (9st 13lb), The Goffer (9st 10lb)
"Conflated has been a classy horse and he’s tumbling down the weights but his form hasn’t been too bad," said Elliott.
"I suppose the big question mark is stamina and whether he’ll stay the trip or not. I suppose with any of those horses which haven’t been over four miles before, it’s always a question mark."
"Delta Work has had a good preparation, he runs off the same mark as last year, I thought he’d maybe be a little bit lower.
"He showed a fair bit of zest the last day at Cheltenham (when fourth in the Cotswold Chase), so I’m really looking forward to it.
"Galvin had a spin the other day and I’m really happy with him. He ran a great race in it last year and came home very strong. If it’s drier ground, he’d have a good chance.
"Looking at it, we’d probably have five or six in it. You’d have to say Delta and Galvin would be the two main ones but among the unexposed horses, I’d say Fil Dor . I think he’s really coming back to himself, he’s run really well in his last couple of races.
"If Three Card Brag sneaks in down at the bottom I think he could be dangerous. We’ve also got Zanahiyr in, he’s hot and cold but he’s been the horse of a lifetime, so we’ll see what happens."
Trainer Gavin Cromwell – Inothewayurthinkin (11st 5lb), Stumptown (11st 2lb), Perceval Legallois (10st 12lb), Limerick Lace (10st 10lb), Velvet Elvis (10st 7lb), Vanillier (10st 6lb), Yeah Man (10st 3lb), Malina Girl (10st 1lb)
"Inothewayurthinkin is on 160 which is the same as his mark in Ireland. I wouldn't say he is a certain runner at this stage and we will look at other options for him, including the Bowl at Aintree. He will also get an entry in the Irish National as well.
"Limerick Lace was running a good race last year before she made a mistake, which effectively ended her chance (finished 10th). She has just been entered for the Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham again and there is a chance she could go there and on to Aintree again. I am hoping that she is a spring horse as her two runs this season have not seen her at her best.
"Perceval Legallois I would say is a likely runner at this stage and I think we’ll be missing Cheltenham with him. He won the Paddy Power Handicap Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas and then a Listed handicap hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival so is in really good form.
"Both Stumptown and Vanillier could go to the Glenfarclas Chase at Cheltenham and then we can see about the National, but both horses could go for both races."
Trainer Henry de Bromhead – Envoi Allen (11st 8lb), Monty’s Star (11st 5lb), Minella Indo (11st 3lb), Senior Chief (10st 10lb)
"At the moment Envoi Allen’s heading for the Ryanair Chase and Monty’s Star is heading for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.
"Minella Indo is aiming for the National and Senior Chief is aiming for there as well.
"Envoi Allen seems well and Monty’s Star is in great form too. He has come out of his last race well.
"Minella Indo ran really well last year (finished third), which was brilliant. He’s come out of the Boyne Hurdle in Navan the other day OK. He ran well and Rachael (Blackmore, jockey) was happy. He might have got a bit tired in the ground but he ran well.
"He’s got a great attitude. He’s an amazing horse, he’s been brilliant over the years and he’s a great man. We’re delighted with him.
"Senior Chief ran great at Cheltenham (when winning at The Showcase Meeting in October). We were a bit disappointed with him in the Hennessy (Coral Gold Cup at Newbury) but he seems in good form again now, so we’ll definitely aim him at the National."
Trainer Paul Nicholls – Hitman (11st 1lb), Bravemansgame (11st), Threeunderthrufive (10st 12lb), Kandoo Kid (10st 11lb) and Stay Away Fay (10st 9lb)
"Bravemansgame has 11st now – that’s a real racing weight for him and as a Grade One winner, that’s just the job. We are pleased with that.
"That’s about what we expected for Hitman and I’m looking forward to running him. He’s been running well of late and he’s run well in some really big races, so that’s perfect.
"He’s in on Saturday (the Ascot Chase) but we’ll make a decision on that on Thursday. Obviously, he only ran on Saturday, so I’ll just see what declares and see how he is. But if he runs on Saturday, then he’ll go straight to Aintree.
"Kandoo Kid is a Coral Gold Cup winner and he went round Aintree last year – I’d be very happy with that weight.
"He might go to Kempton next Saturday (for the Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase) – I need to discuss it with the owner. I wouldn’t run him on very, very soft ground. It’s that option or 1 March at Newbury, where he likes it, just over two and a half miles just to give him a day out. It’s possible he’ll run but it’s not essential.
"Stay Away Fay has got to qualify yet. He’d need to have another run, so I’m planning on getting another run into him over fences before 18 March. He could even go to Cheltenham.
"We’ve just got to get him back right because we haven’t had him right yet."
Josh Guerriero, joint-trainer with Oliver Greenall – Iroko (10st 11lb)
"Iroko is our first runner in the race so to have one so fancied is incredible. It puts a bit more pressure on him getting there, obviously, but we're going to try and have a run before then at Kempton in the Ladbrokes Trophy on 22 February and provided all that goes smoothly then it’s straight to Aintree.
"It’s very exciting, he looks made for the race, he’s got the right profile and we’re looking forward to it. We’re very lucky to have been allowed to train the horse for JP (McManus), which is incredible, and we’re just looking forward to it now. Just getting him there is the key.
"Aintree would be one of our local tracks. It’s only an hour away where we train and we both love it there. I had a winner over the National fences back in 2008 in the amateur race and Oliver’s sort of grown up there with his dad having been chairman so it’s got a special place in both our hearts."
Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies – Beauport (11st 1lb), Broadway Boy (10st 9lb)
"Great! That’s wonderful. I think we’ve got two nice weights, so I’m very happy.
"Beauport is very good and he’s running at Haydock Park on Saturday (in the WKD Rendlesham Hurdle), so he seems in really good form. He’s very different to Earth Summit and Bindaree (previous Grand National winners) but he’s a lovely horse, a good stayer and a great stamp of a horse so we should be good.
"Broadway Boy is in good form and the National is his intended target. He won’t run at Haydock on Saturday, he will run at Cheltenham in the Ultima.
"We’ve been incredibly lucky in the past and a third success would be lovely."
Trainer Tom Gibney – Intense Raffles (10st 10lb), Bronn (10st 1lb)
"That’s fair enough. Intense Raffles was 151 over here so why should he be any different over there? I’d be quite happy with that.
"We’re hoping to get serious now as we get a bit closer. He’ll have another run – all being well he’ll run again, not this weekend but the next weekend at Fairyhouse.
"It was a great performance to win the Irish Grand National last year and if we can get him back to that I’d be very happy."
