Nicholls tries to steer Walsh on to ‘strongly’ fancied Turko in National
However, the champion trainer fears the worst as Walsh is already pencilled in for the ride on 2005 winner Hedgehunter in the Aintree feature.
Nicholls said: “I’ve been trying my damnedest to prise Ruby off Hedgehunter to ride Turko.
“I really fancy him quite strongly but I don’t have a jockey at the moment. I don’t think I’ll be successful on the Ruby front so we’ll have to see.
“His form in the Lexus Chase and in the Ryanair looks good. There are a lot of horses above him who wouldn’t have run so well in those types of races – you couldn’t see Mr Pointment finishing third in the Lexus or the Ryanair.
“I’m really quite keen on him. He wants to go left-handed and he wants good ground, he’s got lots of ticks in the right boxes,” the Ditcheat handler told Racing UK.
“I’ve just got to persuade Andy (Stewart, owner) and hope we can find a suitable jockey.”
David Pipe could saddle up to five runners in the four-and-a-half-miler, with Comply Or Die and Joaaci both fancied to acquit themselves well.
Pipe said: “We left them all in today, bar Over The Creek, and hopefully they’ll all run.
“Timmy (Murphy) hasn’t told us which one he’s going to ride yet but Tom Scudamore will probably be on Madison Du Berlais. Johnny Farrelly will be on Joaaci and we’re working on the others. To be realistic, you’d have to go for Comply Or Die as he is the 10-1 third favourite.
“He’s won over four miles and one furlong and Joaaci could just have a squeak.
“He’s hard to get right but if he was to put his best foot forward he looks a big price.”
Cloudy Lane remains a red-hot favourite and connections appear to be growing in confidence as his date with destiny looms.
“He’s come out of his last race well. He had a little quiet spell but he’s been back in fast work a while now and he’s in really good order,” said trainer Donald McCain.
“He’s in great nick and a bit of sun has made a great difference to all the horses and he’s certainly appreciated it.
“For him to be the first horse Mr (Trevor) Hemmings has sent me he has been unbelievable. He won a bumper, the Red Square Final at Haydock over hurdles and he won at Cheltenham last year.
“Everything we have thrown at him he has done but he faces his biggest task now,” he told At The Races.
Arthur Moore has been pleased with the way King Johns Castle has taken to National-style fences at home.
“King Johns Castle is on course for the Grand National and I was pleased with him at Naas and he did it well,” said Moore.
“I have popped him over something similar to the National fences at home and he’s been fine.
“I wouldn’t say it’s been an ambition of mine to win the race, but it would be very nice to do so.”
A total of 16 horses were taken out at the five-day stage, with Patsy Hall, Ungaro and Over The Creek arguably the most notable sure to miss out.
John Smith’s Grand National
Cashmans bet: 6 Cloudy Lane, 10 Comply Or Die, Slim Pickings, 12 Simon, Snowy Morning, Point Barrow, Turko, Butler's Cabin, 14 Bewleys Berry, Hedgehunter, Mr Pointment, 16 McKelvey, King Johns Castle, Chelsea Harbour 20 Philson Run, L'Ami, 25 Knowhere, Joes Edge, Vodka Bleu, Dun Doire, Mon Mome, Osmoses
Paddy Power bet: 11-2 Cloudy Lane, 10-1 Comply Or Die, Slim Pickings, 12-1 Simon, 14-1 Bewleys Berry, Chelsea Harbour, Snowy Morning, 16-1 Butler’s Cabin, King Johns Castle, McKelvey, Mr Pointment, 20-1 Point Barrow, 25-1 Bar.
Totesport bet: 5-1 Cloudy Lane, 9-1 Slim Pickings, 11-1 Comply Or Die, 12-1 Simon, 14-1 Bewleys Berry, Butler’s Cabin, 16-1 Chelsea Harbour, Kings John Castle, Snowy Morning, 18-1 Mr Pointment, 20-1 Hedgehunter, Point Barrow, 22-1 McKelvey, 25-1 Bar.
