Cloudy Lane could be another Grand National horse for the McCain family after a cheeky win in the Sodexho Prestige Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase at Haydock.

PAT HUGHES believes Point Barrow will “definitely” make the frame if he enjoys a trouble-free passage in Saturday’s John Smith’s Grand National.

Last year’s John Smith’s Grand National hero Hedgehunter tops 84 horses left in Saturday’s Aintree feature at the five-day stage.

Paddy Brennan, one of the rising stars of the National Hunt scene, has been booked to ride the Ginger McCain-trained Inca Trail in the John Smith’s Grand National.

Ginger McCain, trainer of the late Red Rum, has splashed out 110,000 guineas on former Paul Nicholls inmate Inca Trail, bringing his number of runners in the John Smith’s Grand National on April 8 to three.

HEDGEHUNTER, last year’s John Smith’s Grand National hero, will share joint top weight of 11st 12lb following the news that 96 horses stand their ground at the second forfeit stage for next month’s renewal of the Aintree marathon.

Amberleigh House was well beaten over hurdles at Hereford in his last public appearance before the John Smith’s Grand National.

Amberleigh House was well beaten over hurdles at Hereford in his last public appearance before the John Smith’s Grand National.

FORMER Grand National winner Amberleigh House will have his final run before another tilt at Aintree glory with an appearance at Hereford today.

Former Grand National winner Amberleigh House will have his final run before another tilt at Aintree glory with an appearance at Hereford on Monday.

ANTE-POST favourite Clan Royal and Racing Post Chase hero Innox are among 122 contenders remaining after the first forfeit stage for the John Smith’s Grand National.

Ante-post favourite Clan Royal and Racing Post Chase hero Innox are among 122 contenders remaining after the first forfeit stage for the John Smith’s Grand National.

Our Armageddon shone as brightly as the Staffordshire sunshine after registering a top-drawer victory in the Singer & Friedlander Handicap Chase at Uttoxeter.

Monkerhostin has been allocated top-weight of 11st 12lb for the John Smith’s Grand National by senior British Horseracing Board jumps handicapper Phil Smith.

Ginger McCain’s runners have hit a rich vein of form since the turn of the year and the Aintree legend kept up the good work with a 25-1 double thanks to wins from Vicario and West Hill at Sedgefield on Monday.

Paul Nicholls has a powerful 10-strong team entered in the John Smith’s Grand National as he continues his quest for his first trainers’ championship.

Peter Marsh Chase winner Ebony Light will continue his John Smith’s Grand National preparations with another run at Haydock next month.

Trainer Ned Mitchell has one eye firmly focused on the John Smith’s Grand National next April after Garvivonnian proved his mettle over the Aintree fences in the totesport Becher Chase.

Aintree legend Ginger McCain could be represented in both races over the Grand National fences on Sunday.

The Bagenalstown, Co Carlow base of Willie Mullins hosted Aintree Grand National sponsors John Smith’s annual stable visit yesterday. Pat Keane was there.

Richard Ford has issued an upbeat bulletin ahead of Forest Gunner’s run in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree tomorrow.

JIMMY MANGAN will never forget the day Monty’s Pass won the Grand National.

Graham Lee is free to resume his partnership with Amberleigh House in the John Smith’s Grand National after it was revealed that Grey Abbey will bypass the Aintree spectacular.

Jason Maguire is on standby to take the ride on ante-post favourite Amberleigh House in next month's John Smith’s Grand National.

Venn Ottery, who holds lofty entries at Cheltenham and Aintree, could have his first run for Martin Pipe at Newbury on Saturday.

Last season’s Grand National hero Amberleigh House couldn’t make it a winning return to action at Aintree yesterday but trainer Ginger McCain was more than happy with his performance.

BEST MATE has been installed as the 3-1 favourite with sponsors Stan James to land the King George VI Chase at Kempton on St. Stephen's Day.

EDREDON BLEU, who dominated the Peterborough Chase for four years from 1998 to 2001, heads the entries for this year’s contest in the likely absence of stablemates Best Mate and Impek.

Grand National winner Amberleigh House could continue his build up to another crack at the Aintree marathon with an outing at Wetherby on Saturday.

AMBERLEIGH HOUSE could only finish ninth in the jmc.it Handicap Hurdle at Haydock Park yesterday on his first outing since his memorable Martell Grand National success in April.

Grand National hero Amberleigh House begins the long road to further Aintree glory tomorrow when he heads for the jmc.it Handicap Hurdle at Haydock.

Amberleigh House, fresh from success in last weekend’s Martell Cognac Grand National, will make an appearance at Bangor racecourse a week from today.

An exhibition to celebrate the achievements of triple Grand National winner Red Rum opened at the British National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket this week.

IRISH bookmakers cannot agree about the chances of Xenophon in the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National, with Paddy Power installing him 5-1 favourite and Cashmans going 14-1.

Bookmakers cannot agree about the chances of Xenophon in the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National, with Paddy Power installing him 5-1 favourite and Cashmans going 14-1.

Amberleigh House was reported to be in top form this morning after his memorable victory in the Martell Cognac Grand National at Aintree yesterday.

Graham Lee has recovered from a heavy fall at Sedgefield on Tuesday and will be fit to ride at Aintree tomorrow.

CHAMPION Hurdle-winning trainer Dessie Hughes, though, reports Timbera, clear favourite at 9-1 with Cashmans, to be bang on course for Saturday’s Martell Cognac Grand National.

TED WALSH is planning a double assault on the Martell Cognac Grand National at Aintree on April 3.

Rince Ri was today the subject of a big ante-post plunge for the Martell Cognac Grand National.

GOLDEN ROW, mildly disappointing in his first two outings over fences, set the record straight with an exhilarating exhibition in the Novice Chase at Tipperary last night.

Martell Cognac Grand National hero Monty’s Pass enjoyed a rapturous reception on his return to Ireland today.

Monty’s Pass (16-1) put up a superb round of jumping to land the Martell Cognac Grand National at Aintree today.