Following the defection of First Gold at today’s final declaration stage, the weights for the Martell Cognac Grand National will go up 3lb to leave Le Coudray at the top of the handicap for Saturday’s race.

Few trainers have as formidable a record at the Cheltenham Festival as Nicky Henderson and the performance of Trabolgan at Newbury yesterday left the Lambourn trainer dreaming of further glory at Prestbury Park in March.