JUNIOR could use the Betfred Gold Cup as his prep race for the John Smith's Grand National with trainer David Pipe hoping the ante-post favourite can follow in the hoofprints of Miinnehoma who won the race for his father in 1994.
POPULAR chaser Baby Run will not run this term after picking up a minor leg injury, but trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies is confident the 12-year-old will return for next season when his campaign could include a crack at the John Smith's Grand National.
GRAND NATIONAL hopes The Midnight Club and Cooldine, both trained by Willie Mullins, failed to enhance their Aintree claims at Clonmel on Thursday as they were comprehensively beaten by Leanne.
Leading fancy Beshabar will miss the John Smith's Grand National. The Scottish Grand National winner was a general 20-1 chance for the Aintree marathon but he will not run again this season due to a small strain to his nearside tendon.
JOHN SMITH'S Grand National fancy Junior could have his Aintree warm-up at Haydock next month after he featured among 47 entries for the Betfred Grand National Trial on Saturday, February 18.
OSCAR TIME, who finished runner-up to Ballabriggs in last season's John Smith's Grand National, is set to miss this year's Aintree spectacular through injury.
TRAINER Donald McCain revealed on Tuesday that Ballabriggs could have more than one run before the defence of his John Smith's Grand National title in April, when he could be joined by stablemates Weird Al, Wymott and Fabalu.
DONALD McCAIN said on Monday that Grand National winner Ballabriggs was ready to get into more serious work though may not reappear until Kelso, where he warmed up for Aintree by finishing second in a chase last year, in early March.
CALGARY BAY saw off the late challenge of Hector's Choice to return to the winners' enclosure for the first time since December 2009 to provide trainer Henrietta Knight with the perfect start to the new year.
TIM VAUGHAN has revealed that Beshabar, the 14-1 favourite for the John Smith's Grand National with Blue Square, could be out for the season after a scan revealed a strain to his nearside tendon.
As sporting sights go, few can match the sheer excitement of 40 horses thundering towards the first fence at Aintree for the John Smith's Grand National.
A race steeped in history that always provides a story, the Grand National is the ultimate test of endurance and skill for both horse and jockey, as the pairing must navigate 30 treacherous fences, and then still have enough stamina to make a challenge on the run-in.
To manage a clear round in the 4m4f epic is no mean achievement, with the fences notoriously difficult and offering unique challenges.
Over the years, there have been countless memorable moments, Devon Loch's phantom leap in the 1956 contest, Foinavon's shock 100-1 win in 1967 and the brilliance of Red Rum, who took the chase on three occasions in 1973, 74 and 77.
In 1981 Aldaniti and Bob Champion completed a heartwarming tale when winning the race, as Aldaniti had recovered from a career-threatening injury while jockey Champion had battled back from cancer.
Last season the race provided another fairytale story as champion jockey and now BBC Sports Personality of the Year Tony McCoy finally gained victory in the race at the 15th timeof asking.
Big Buck's, Baby Run, Nacarat & the rest of the highlights from Aintree
