Cloudy heads National hopes

Ante-post favourite Cloudy Lane features among a maximum field of 40 declared for the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday.

The Trevor Hemmings-owned eight-year-old could be one of the shortest market-leaders of the marathon handicap chase for many years as he bids to give trainer Donald McCain jnr a fairytale success by continuing the family tradition.

His father, Ginger, saddled four National winners – triple hero Red Rum (1973, 1974, 1977) and Amberleigh House four years ago.

Hemmings has also tasted National glory before with 2005 winner Hedgehunter, trained by Willie Mullins and one of the owner’s three runners this year – the other being Idle Talk from the McCain stable.

As expected, Ollie Magern is out of the race after being lame on Wednesday. The only other absentee from the top 40 in the handicap was Cornish Rebel, which means the Tony Martin-trained Dun Doire has made the cut.

There are four reserves – Ardaghey, Joes Edge, In The High Grass and Ossmoses.

A reserve will be able to take the place of a horse declared a non-runner by 9.30am on Friday.