National favourite could run before Aintree

Punters pinning their hopes on the favourite for the John Smith’s Grand National received a boost yesterday as trainer Jonjo O’Neill said that he would be doing everything in his power to see that Clan Royal makes the starting line-up on April 9.

Since finishing second in the race last year, Clan Royal has been the subject of steady support for the £700,000 (€1m) race, early offers of 33-1 and 25-1 soon being snapped up to leave him now trading at around the 12-1 mark.