Nigel Twiston-Davies is hoping to have six runners in the John Smith’s Grand National as he seeks a third success in the Aintree showpiece.

Backstage is all set for the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree following his prep race on unsuitable ground at Navan on Saturday when he was last of eight finishers behind Glencove Marina.

DENIS O’REGAN is likely to be back aboard Black Apalachi for the gelding’s third attempt at the John Smith’s Grand National.

EACH of the last three winners of the John Smith’s Grand National have been entered for the 2010 renewal on April 10.

Dessie Hughes is gearing Black Apalachi's campaign around a second attempt at the John Smith's Grand National.

Charlie Swan has high hopes for his first runner in the John Smith’s Grand National when Offshore Account takes his chance at Aintree tomorrow.

BOOKMAKERS believe John Smith’s Grand National success for ante-post favourite My Will could cost the industry up to £100m at Aintree on Saturday.

Denis O'Regan has been given the all-clear by a specialist to resume riding next week after results of an MRI scan on his back revealed no vertebrae had been broken.

Snowy Morning, third in the 2008 John Smith’s Grand National, is unlikely to run again before this year’s Aintree spectacular on April 4.

Black Apalachi enhanced his Grand National claims with a bold display in the At The Races Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse.

Michael O’Brien is confident Forget The Past can bounce back to form in the At The Races Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse on Saturday.

Jim Dreaper believes the postponement of last weekend’s Irish Hennessy meeting could have worked in Notre Pere’s favour after the weights for this year’s John Smith’s Grand National were revealed.

The entries for the 2009 John Smith’s Grand National have been revealed, with last year’s Gold Cup winner Denman the headline act from a total of 123.

DESSIE HUGHES has decided to let Hardy Eustace take his chance in Sunday’s Bar-One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

Soft-ground loving Black Apalachi earned a 33-1 quote for the John Smith’s Grand National with Ladbrokes after a superb round of jumping secured him a win over the famous fences at Aintree.

Kicking King has breathed new life into the Cheltenham Gold Cup market with his sparkling return to action at Gowran Park following a 759-day layoff.

Connections of Teeming Rain are confident of a decent comeback run after a seven-month absence in the williamhill.ie Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan on Sunday.

Willie Mullins unleashed another potential champion bumper contender as Fiveforthree bolted in by seven lengths at Punchestown to receive quotes of 12-1 for the Cheltenham contest from Ladbrokes and William Hill.

Tony Martin hopes there will be “enough juice” in the ground at Fairyhouse for Dun Doire to do himself justice in the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National.

CONSIDERING it was only his fourth race over fences, Philip Rothwell's 25-1 shot, Black Apalachi, produced a tremendous performance to beat 20-1 chance Camden Tanner in the valuable Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown yesterday.

IN a short few weeks Mossy Green will celebrate his 12th birthday, but showed at Thurles yesterday there is still plenty life left in Willie Mullins’ charge.

Dessie Hughes is pondering his Cheltenham options for Central House after the two-mile star sauntered to victory in the Paddy & Helen Cox Memorial Newlands Chase at Naas yesterday.

CENTRAL HOUSE set himself up for the Cheltenham Festival when running out an embarrassingly easy winner of the Paddy & Helen Cox Memorial Newlands Chase at Naas yesterday.