McCoy is blowing towards wind

Tony McCoy today revealed that he would probably ride Blowing Wind in the Martell Grand National at Aintree on Saturday week.

The record-chasing jump jockey has yet to win the world`s most famous steeplechase but the closest he came was last year when he remounted the nine-year-old after being brought down at the Canal Turn to finish third behind Red Marauder.

However, Blowing Wind is among 13 entries that trainer Martin Pipe still has in the Stg500,000 feature.

'The boss has got a lot of entries, but Blowing Wind is the shortest-priced one at the moment and having finished third last year there`s a good chance it`ll probably be him,' McCoy told the Racing Channel when asked who he would ride in the Grand National.

'I imagine it will be him. Obviously he won well at Cheltenham and he`s in good form and we`d be hopeful.

'He did seem to jump well last year and he seemed to like the track OK. Hopefully things will go OK and he`s definitely in with a chance.'

Blowing Wind, allotted 10st 1lb at Aintree, is 8-1 joint favourite with the Tote and William Hill following his victory in the Mildmay Of Flete Challenge Cup at the Cheltenham Festival two weeks ago.

McCoy deserted him that day and was on the runner-up Lady Cricket.

Gunner Welburn pleased connections in a getting-to-know-you schooling session with big-race jockey Tony Dobbin.

The 10-year-old, who won the Martell Fox Hunters` Chase over two and three-quarter miles of the National course last April, jumped three fences on the gallops of his former trainer Caroline Bailey this morning.

'He went very well and Tony was very happy with him,' said Mrs Bailey.

'He went up with Secret Bay and they both jumped very well.'

Gunner Welburn, beaten half a length by Last Option in the Christie`s Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham two weeks ago, has had to leave Bailey`s point-to-point yard at Holdenby in Northamptonshire, in order to comply with Jockey Club rules for him to run in the Grand National.

But he has only gone a mile down the road to Mrs Bailey`s sister-in-law, Julia `Tik` Saunders.

'He`s very relaxed there and eating up and he has to stay there for the rest of the season,' remarked Mrs Bailey, who plans to give him one final gallop before his bid for the world`s greatest race on Saturday week.

'He did a good strong piece of week this morning. He`ll probably do another over the weekend, Sunday or Monday, and then he`ll be ready to go hopefully.'

Mrs Bailey`s father, Dick Saunders who died in January, partnered Grittar to victory when a 48-year-old amateur in the Aintree marathon 20 years ago.

Gunner Welburn, currently 7lb out of the handicap in the National, is quoted at 20-1 with the Tote, who cut Ad Hoc to 8-1 from 9-1 and Ackzo to 33-1 from 25-1.

William Hill reported more support for Moor Lane following a good schooling session over Aintree style fences on Wednesday and have cut Ian Balding`s charge to 12-1 from 14s.

Going on the Grand National course at Aintree for the three-day meeting that starts a week today was this afternoon described as good to soft.

Martell Grand National betting:

Tote: 8-1 Ad Hoc, Blowing Wind, 10-1 Davids Lad, 14-1 Beau, Moor Lane, 16-1 Alexander Banquet, Papillon, 20-1 Paris Pike, What`s Up Boys, 25-1 Gunner Welburn, Marlborough, Smarty, 33-1 bar.

William Hill: 8-1 Ad Hoc, Blowing Wind, 12-1 Beau, Davids Lad, Moor Lane, 14-1 Alexander Banquet, 20-1 Gunner Welburn, Papillon, Paris Pike, What`s Up Boys, 25-1 Amberleigh House, Bindaree, Marlborough, Mely Moss, 33-1 bar.