Shaneshill team target Lightning strike Patrick Mullins feels Shaneshill will need to "brush up his jumping" if he is to keep his unbeaten record over fences intact in the grand-national2016.co.uk Lightning Novices' Chase at Doncaster on Saturday. Runner-up to Douvan in last season's Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, the Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old is two from two since turning his attentions to larger obstacles, romping home at Thurles before winning with authority at Naas. The trainer's son and assistant, Patrick, said: "He will have to brush up his jumping as he wasn't the most fluent over the last two fences in Naas. "I think the drier ground will play to his strengths and he's a horse I love, but it will be an interesting race. "It should be a fair test with Vaniteux in the race." Shaneshill must concede weight to Nicky Henderson's Vaniteux, who impressed on his chasing bow at Kempton before being touched off by Ar Mad on his return to the track over Christmas. Henderson said: " There's going to be a good pace and we know that Willie's horse will stay, so it will be an interesting race. "He's in good form and ran well the other day. "We have waited for the better ground and he looks like he will get the ground he likes." Arzal was third in the same Kempton heat over the Christmas period and renews rivalry with Vaniteux for Harry Whittington. "It looks like one of the hottest runnings of the Lightning there's been for a few years, but he's in good form and came out of the race at Kempton well," said the Wantage-based trainer. "We're looking forward to going left-handed with him again on a more galloping the track and I think the ground should be fine." Fox Norton won his first two starts after joining Neil Mulholland from Nick Williams' yard and was last seen chasing home Garde La Victoire at Cheltenham in November. "He's in very good order and while it's a good race and you wouldn't be shouting from the rooftops, I'd be hoping he'll run well," said Mulholland. "His form is very good and he's done very little wrong, so we're hoping for the best." The field is completed by Paul Nicholls' course winner Bouvreuil.
