EARTHMOVER TO RUN DESPITE GROUND Earthmover will take his chance in tomorrow`s Martell Grand National despite the very testing conditions. There had been fears that the good-ground specialist would be pulled out, with heavy rain turning the going unsuitably soft. But trainer Paul Nicholls said: 'Earthmover definitely runs, it was just a question of whether the owner wanted him to or not. 'It was desperate ground when he finished second over hurdles at Wetherby earlier in the season and it might be an advantage if it slows them down - it might allow us to hunt him round at the back and ride a race. 'If he can get into a rhythm and get jumping he`ll be all right, if not we`re cooked.' The soggy terrain could count against last year`s winner Papillon. Jockey Ruby Walsh said: 'It will affect Papillon because he`s better on good ground. 'But it`s soft ground, it`s not bottomless.' Philip Hobbs believes the going should not affect the chance of his Village King too badly. 'I would be certainly hopeful of getting into the shake-up - I suppose ideally he would want the ground less testing but he will manage all right,' the trainer said. 'He fell at the one before Becher`s last year but he was going very well at the time. He is in very good form and he has been trained for the race ever since then.'
