Findlay believes Fella has big chance
Tricky Trickster is into single figures at 8-1 with Coral after his tight Aon Chase win over Niche Market on Saturday, while Big Fella Thanks is 20-1 with National betting partner totesport.
Findlay’s Denman was a huge casualty in the Aon and despite Tricky Trickster’s subsequent success, the renowned gambler believes last year’s sixth Big Fella Thanks – who has been dropped 3lb by handicapper Phil Smith – can prove the pick of Nicholls’ five entries.
Findlay was one of those attending the unveiling of the weight’s in London on Tuesday, and he said: “I think the handicapper has got it just right as with Cerium finishing fifth last year you have to question the overall form.
“We thought the race first time around would suit Big Fella Thanks as he is a character but he was slowly away from the big fences and that hindered him.
“Nicholls and Ruby (Walsh) think he is a more mature horse this year and that he is significantly better.
“He was running well and wasn’t far off the winner when falling at Kempton and personally I would have a few quid on him at 20s.”
Nicholls has saddled 44 losers in the race and believes Tricky Trickster (11st 4lb) and Big Fella Thanks (10st 12lb) both have “outstanding chances” to end his luckless run.
The pair will warm up for their trip to Liverpool with outings in the Gold Cup and at Newbury respectively.
Nicholls said: “Tricky Trickster went up 3lb for winning on Saturday but we can live with that.
“He is improving and has the right profile and I am not worried about his age.
“I have trained Big Fella Thanks and Tricky Trickster especially for the race and it has been the target all of the way.
“Chris Giles told me he wanted a horse for the National so we bought him Tricky Trickster last summer and it has been his target since.
“I haven’t trained him or Big Fella Thanks hard yet and I certainly wouldn’t swap them for anything.”
Bob Buckler’s Irish National winner Niche Market had been allotted the same weight as Tricky Trickster after the pair were separated by a short head at Newbury and the staminaladen hope is 16-1 with Hills.
The trainer said: “He has speed and ability and if you look at the credentials you need in a National horse, he has them all.
“He has always shown us that he is a National horse and I won’t get many like him in my lifetime.
“To have a live chance in the National is amazingly satisfying but the worrying side is to keep the horse at his best for the day.”
David Pipe’s Comply Or Die (11st 5lb) is one of three National winners back to defend his crown with the 2008 hero part of a nine-strong entry from Pond House.
Pipe said: “Tricky Trickster is the one to beat. He is open to improvement, has win over four miles and I think he, along with Niche Market, are the two.
“Comply Or Die has the experience around there having been round twice. He isn’t getting any younger but he is in great form and is the Mr Reliable of mine.”
Bookies are taking no chances with last year’s shock 100-1 winner Mon Mome (11st 7lb) and Venetia Williams’ representative is around the 20-1 mark.
Williams said: “Phil has put us up 2lb off our normal rating, which is pretty much what I expected.
“He’ll run in the Blue Square Gold Cup at Haydock this Saturday all being well and we’d be hoping for a good run and then all roads lead to Aintree.”
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