No ground for concern at Aintree

Officials at Aintree aim to provide ground no quicker than good for the three-day John Smith's Grand National meeting in two weeks' time.

The going is currently slightly on the easy side on both Mildmay and National courses.

Should conditions dry up, then watering would be considered.

"We could do with a bit of good weather. The ground is generally on the easy side of good, and good to soft, good in places on the National course," said clerk of the course Andrew Tulloch.

"We have set our stall out to provide ground no faster than good for the meeting and we have the facility to water if we need to.

"We've got a new two-and-a-half-mile novice chase which trainers were asking for and we hope that will be fully supported.

"We have also now sorted things out that all fences out in the country can now be bypassed."