The Last Samuri can give trainer Kim Bailey a second success in the Aintree Grand National, 26 years after Mr Frisk set a course record with an emphatic display.

It appears increasingly likely that Crabbie’s Grand National winner Many Clouds may attempt to do the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup-Aintree double after his intended prep race was scuppered by the weather at Kelso on Saturday.

 

The Druids Nephew enhanced his claims for the Crabbie’s Grand National when striding out a ready winner of the Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Chase at Cheltenham. 

Ruby Walsh is more worried about Djakadam having had only three runs over fences rather than the fact that he is only a five-year-old going into Saturday’s Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.