Six Shooting For National Double

Connections of 2006 John Smith's Grand National hero Numbersixvalverde hope lightning strikes twice when he bids for a famous repeat at Aintree on Saturday.

The 11-year-old scored a ready success in the nation-stopping marathon last year and will bid to land back-to-back renewals for the first time since Aintree legend Red Rum achieved the feat in 1973-74.

'I'm really looking forward to it and hoping he'll run well,' said owner Bernie Carroll.

'Everything's gone to plan and I'm just hoping the ground will stay all right really.

'They'll probably water tonight and tomorrow and the ground won't effect him ? he works well on it.'

Carroll was pleased to see his charge finish fourth at Fairyhouse last time but admits Saturday's steadying burden of 11st 3lb is cause for concern.

'He stayed on well last time and that was on the one ground he really wouldn't like as it was really tacky,' he added.

'That run kind of woke him up a bit but he's as good as he ever was, I can tell you that for sure.

'11st 3lb could be the problem, but if he gets around safe you never know what he might do.

'There's two others in there that I quite fancy and they are Point Barrow and Idle Talk.

'Point Barrow was very impressive in his hurdle run recently and came from way off the pace to finish third ? he's a good horse with a bit of class about him.

'I've always liked Idle Talk and I think he's the sort of horse that'll like the National.'

The Pat Hughes-trained Point Barrow has long been among the leading fancies for the National after landing the Irish equivalent last year and has reportedly settled in well.

'He's eaten up and never turned a hair,' said Hughes, who hopes Aintree continue to water in the absence of much-needed rain.

'A drop of water would be good ? as well as a bit of luck.

'Everything has gone well since his last race, so we are just hoping for the best.

'As for tactics in a race like this, the jockey has to play it by ear as anything can happen.'

Leighton Aspell is looking forward to teaming up with Billyvoddan over the big fences, having ridden him just once before when winning the BGC Silver Cup at Ascot in December.

'The blinkers seems to work first time at Ascot and I was very impressed with him,' Aspell told At The Races.

'Hedgehunter would be a danger with his Aintree experience but he's had an interrupted preparation.

'The Irish have had such a good record over the past few years and they've got others with good chances ? Point Barrow and Numbersixvalverde.'

Racing Post Chase winner Simon has only won on good to soft or easier going but trainer John Spearing believes the well-watered ground will be fine for his progressive eight-year-old.

'The ground will be all right for him, I think he'll act on it OK. He doesn't need really soft ground,' said Spearing.

'I think he'll take to the fences, but you never know until you actually get here. Andrew (Thornton) will ride him as he finds it.'

Andrea and Graham Wylie have already enjoyed a good season and a prominent showing from Bewleys Berry would give them further cause for celebration.

Big-race pilot Paddy Brennan told Racing UK: 'He jumps really well and I'm not saying he'll win or anything, but he'll love the ground and he loves jumping the fences.

'The boss (Johnson) does very well at Aintree but you couldn't rule any of them out ? it looks very competitive.'

Kim Bailey's Longshanks finally gets his chance to shine in the National and his handler is looking forward to the test.

'The combination of cantering and swimming will have put him in peak form for his big day,' the Gloucestershire trainer told www.kimbaileyracing.com.

'It has been a tense week but we all feel that Longshanks has come through it all well and from 4.15pm tomorrow afternoon it will be up to Tony Dobbin to navigate a clear course.'

(C) PA Sport