CHAMPION trainer Paul Nicholls has ten of the 102 initial entries for the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree in April.
Saturday’s Cheltenham winner Neptune Collonges is joined by stablemates What A Friend, The Tother One, Tricky Trickster, Taranis and Niche Market among others as Nicholls searches his first ever National success.
The Donald McCain-trained Ballabriggs is favourite with some bookmakers after winning over hurdles at Ayr earlier this week, while last year’s winner Don’t Push It is in the mix again along with fellow Jonjo O’Neill inmate Synchronised, winner of the Welsh National last month.
David Pipe’s 2008 scorer Comply Or Die could line up again as a 12-year-old, while the Evan Williams-trained State Of Play, mercurial talent Tidal Bay and Ferdy Murphy’s Big Fella Thanks are other interesting contenders.
Notre Pere finished fifth over the National fences in November’s Becher Chase and is set to return to Merseyside for the big one on April.
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