Some reaction to National weights

Phil Smith, BHA Handicapper

"I was really impressed with Synchronised and Quel Esprit but when you analyse what they beat you've got to ask a few questions so I haven't gone overboard in putting them highly up the ratings. It's very important those horses at the top of the handicap have an equal chance as those on 10 stone. I think on the overall balance of his form Synchronised is a better horse than Ballabriggs."

Jonjo O'Neill (Synchronised 11st 10lb, Arbor Supreme 10st 7lb, Sunnyhillboy 10st 5lbs)

"If it was a normal handicap he's (Synchronised) not too badly in really, he's given a bit of a chance. He stays really well and we now know he goes on better ground. We'll definitely look at the Gold Cup first and see then. I can see him running a very big race. Arbor Supreme I don't know a lot about but we hope for the best. Sunnyhillboy's a decent little horse and he's an attractive weight."

Paul Nicholls (Neptune Collonges 11st 6lb, Niche Market 10st 4lb)

"Both have got weights I half expected. Neptune is too consistent for his own good and he would seem to have plenty to me, but he did run well in a Scottish National with a big weight so he is used to it.

"Niche Market will get in and would appear to have a lovely weight."

David Pipe (Junior 11st 2lbs, Massini's Maguire 10st 11lbs, Swing Bill 10st 3lbs, The Package 10st 2lbs)

"We are right where we thought we would be - Junior has enough weight with 11-2 but the handicapper always compresses the weights to encourage the best possible field. That means that all of our entries are badly off with several of the topweights but that is not a new scenario and the handicapper faces a very difficult task in trying to make the race as competitive as possible without alienating those further down the handicap. Massini's Maguire has been a very high class horse throughout his entire career and a weight of 10-11 looks reasonable enough, while Swing Bill (10-3) and The Package (10-2) look to have nice racing weights, although they will need plenty above them to come out to get a run."

Donald McCain (Ballabriggs 11st9lbs, Wymott10st 2lbs, Weird Al 11st8lbs)

"Although Ballabriggs has been given a big weight (11-9), I am not surprised and I certainly haven't got a problem with it. He's won the race before, he's a big strong horse who can carry the weight and I am hoping to give him a racecourse gallop at Haydock at the weekend and then it's hopefully on to Kelso in early March for his reappearance. Weird Al has been given a fair weight (11-8) but, to be honest, I am not thinking any further than the Cheltenham Gold Cup with him. Wymott (10-2) would have a nice racing weight if he was able to get in but I would think it was unlikely that he would get a run."

Gordon Elliott (Chicago Grey 10st 13lb, Tharawaat 10st 4lb, Backstage 10st 1lb)

"Chicago Grey's got 10-13, which looks a great weight. I said if he got anything under 11 stone I'd be delighted, so I'm certainly not complaining. It's been the plan for him for a long time and his prep is coming along well. Tharawaat got 10-4, which is a weight he could get in off, but I wouldn't want to run him on fast ground. Backstage's been given 10-1 and he'll probably struggle to get into the race off that weight."

Henrietta Knight (Calgary Bay 11st 6lb)

"I'd like to run him. The horse is very well and the weight is okay as he's a big, big horse. He didn't get any further than fence four last year but that's not because he disregarded the fence he just jumped it too well. I'd be happy to run him on that weight. My inclination would be to go straight to Aintree with a fresh horse."

Neil Mulholland (Midnight Chase 11st 8lb)

"He probably is a good type for the National. It would be nice to have a lighter weight but he's got it for a reason. Aintree is Plan B - Cheltenham is Plan A so we'll go for the Gold Cup and see what happens there first."

Evan Williams (Deep Purple 11st 3lb, State Of Play 10st 3lb)

"I don't think we can complain on some of his (Deep Purple's) form. He's entered in the trial at Haydock, at Ascot and in the Racing Plus Chase and he'll run in one of those before the National. He's being trained for the Grand National. We've either done things very right or very wrong with State Of Play. Perhaps we should've won a Grand National with him or we've done well to be placed in three. Experience counts for a lot."

Tim Vaughan (Tartak 11st 2lb, Stewarts House 10st 5lb, Postmaster 10st 2lb, Our Island 9st 7lb)

"Stewarts House won over the National fences in the Grand Sefton and he loves the track. We'll take stock with Tartak and see how he gets on at Cheltenham. Stewarts House is definitely an intended runner and he has his prep run in the Byrne Group Plate at Cheltenham - I say a prep, I'd love to win that too!"

Dessie Hughes (Roberto Goldback 11st 4lb, Black Apalachi 11st 3lb, Rare Bob 10st 9lb, In Compliance 10st, Vic Venturi 10st)

"Roberto Goldback is probably entitled to have that sort of weight on his level of form, but I think Black Apalachi's weight is a disgrace.

"He hasn't run in almost two years, he's a 13-year-old now and they haven't dropped him a pound.

"He's been round Aintree four times and has been unlucky a couple of times, but he can't be as good a horse as he was two years ago.

"The owners will be very disappointed and we'll have to have a think about whether we run him now.

"Rare Bob will probably run, along with Roberto Goldback. The other two are going to struggle to get in."

Tony Martin (Psycho 11st, Northern Alliance 10st, Saddlers Storm 9st 5lb)

"They would all be intended runners if they get in, but I'll we'll just have to see where we are nearer the day.

"Psycho would be running off a mark of 153. He's rated 148 in Ireland, so it's not all that different and a few pounds isn't going to make a lot of difference in a National."

Tom Taaffe (Treacle 10st 8lb)

"Treacle has come out of the Hennessy well and the Grand National is absolutely the plan.

"He has gone up a stone in Ireland due to that run and otherwise he wouldn't have got into the National and that's why he ran at Leopardstown. He actually needed to run a good race and thank God, he's run his best race ever.

"He was bought as a three-year-old for the owner Mr Nielsen with the intention to being a National horse some day but we didn't think that it would take eight years!,

"He jumps and stays which is what you've got to do to have a chance in the National.

"At this stage we're just trying to get there but it's still a lottery and you've got to look out for fallers and be lucky enough not to fall yourself. Everything has to fall into place and he'll go straight there now."

Henry Daly (Pearlysteps 10st 6lb)

"He should get in at least. It's an entry we've made but at this stage it's too early to say whether he's a definite runner or not.

"He's not certain to run, it's just an entry at this stage but the race is in our mind."

Stuart Crawford (Killyglen 10st 4lb)

"Off that weight you'd be fairly hopeful he'd get in the race, and that is the main thing.

"The horse is in good form and he'll probably have a run somewhere during the first weekend in March.

"He could go the same route as last year and run in the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster, or he could go to the Premier Chase at Kelso or a handicap chase in Leopardstown.

"Doncaster would probably be the favourite option at this stage, but it would be ground dependant.

"He nearly made it round Aintree in the Grand National last year and he's a good jumper. With that bit more experience under his belt, I'd be hopeful he would get round this time and run a big race."

Noel Glynn (Becauseicouldntsee 10st 3lb)

"He's going to have a run over hurdles tomorrow just to get his confidence back. He had a heavy fall in the National last year and in the Paddy Power.

"He had 10st 8lb in the National last year so he's a few pounds lower but that means he's not certain to get in.

"The National is his target and he'll run in the Kim Muir at at Cheltenham first. It's a nice weight."

John Hanlon (Alfa Beat 11st 5lb)

"I'm very happy with his weight but I wanted 11st!

"He was unlucky at Leopardstown the last day when he just clipped heels and went down on the flat. He's in great form at the moment and he'll have a run in Down Royal in about three weeks.

"Barry Geraghty was very happy with him the last day until he was brought down and I'm hoping he'll ride but obviously it depends on what his boss (Nicky Henderson) runs.

"Good ground is vital to him and he should get it over there. The National has been his aim all year."

John Wade (Always Right 10st 10lb):

"It looks a nice racing weight and at least he's guaranteed to get a run.

"I suppose he is quite hard to assess as he didn't run well at Wetherby last time for some reason and we don't really know why.

"He seems in good form at the moment and the plan is for him to run in the Grand National Trial at Haydock on Saturday, so hopefully he can bounce back there."

Malcom Jefferson (According To Pete 10st 12lb)

"He'll have one run somewhere before the National and he'll only run there if I'm happy with his weight. Nobody knows if the horse will stay but you don't train them any different."

Arthur Moore (Organisedconfusion 10st 8lbs)

"Very happy with that it's a nice racing weight. Hopefully we'll get a run. We hope to run at Leopardstown on Sunday fortnight or the following week at Naas and if all goes well we'll head on to Aintree."