Ballabriggs hardens for National

The weights for this year's John Smith's Grand National were announced on Tuesday with favourite Ballabriggs hardening at the top of the market.

Several firms trimmed the market leader's odds from 16/1 to 14/1 after hearing the news that the Donald McCain-trained horse will have to carry 11st.

Speaking about the weights, McCain said: "I've no complaints with that for Ballabriggs. He's a Cheltenham Festival winner so it was always going to be around the 11st mark.

"The bonus is that Don't Push It is likely to run so the weights aren't going to change at all. I've no complaints.''

Don't Push It, last year's winner, and Neptune Collonges are joint top weight of 11st 10lbs.

The 2010 champion is a general 20/1 shot to win again, with Neptune Collonges drifting to 40s (from 33s) with numerous firms following the announcement.

Coral's David Stevens said: "No name is more linked to Grand National success than that of the McCain family, and in Ballabriggs, Donald McCain has a leading contender for this year's race, as he bids to add his own winner to the four trained by his father Ginger."

Given 10st 9lbs, Oscar Time was one who the layers would appear to think has been given a handy weight.

bet365 immediately went 20/1 from 28/1 with other firms making similar moves.

Meanwhile, Betfred cut The Midnight Club to 16/1 co-second favourite.

Willie Mullins' 10-year-old has been allotted 10st 13lbs after a fine seasonal debut when he was a fast-finishing second in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park.

Betfred spokesman Jon Wilde explained: "Rich Ricci, who owns The Midnight Club, has made it no secret that the National is the horse's big target this term.

"It was a most encouraging reappearance in the Thyestes and this improving stayer should thrive for an extreme test of stamina."

The Midnight Club is now one of the worst results in the firm's ante-post book, along with Ballabriggs.

William Hill offer 6/1 that champion trainer Paul Nicholls wins the race for the first time, although Coral are prepared to dangle 8/1 that one of his 10 entries lands the prize.

Niche Market is his leading contender around the 16/1 mark and Hill's spokeswoman Lucy Rhodes explained the bookies would want to stay on the right side of all the sport's big names.

She said: "Last year's monumental gamble on Don't Push It and AP McCoy will live long in the bookies' memories. The Grand National is horse racing's shop window event and any combination of (Ruby) Walsh, McCoy or Nicholls could well inflict further wounds in 2011."

Coral make McCoy, on board Don't Push It 12 months ago, 12/1 to ride back-to-back National winners, while it's just 9/4 that the winner is trained in Ireland.

Stevens added: "Another famous name now on the Aintree roll of honour is AP McCoy, who hit the bookies for a fortune last year, and with Don't Push It allotted top weight this time around, the champ may face a tough choice when it comes to picking this year's National mount, although whatever he rides is sure to be extremely well-backed on the day."

McCoy would appear most likely to be on Don't Push It again at present, although no decision has yet been taken.

The race takes place at Aintree on April 9.