Some trainer reaction to National weights Jim Dreaper (Notre Pere 11st 10lb): "It doesn't matter what we think about it, that's the weight they are going to carry. "That's more or less what we expected. We'll put up with it. "The National is one of the options. He was disappointing the last day (in the Irish Hennessy) but the run of the race didn't go for him. "If it's heavy ground he might still line-up in the Gold Cup, if it's good ground he won't "As far as the National is concerned the ground doesn't matter as much, running four and a half miles on heavy ground isn't fair on any horse. "I would hope he'd take to the National fences but you never actually really know until you try. "He appears to be in good form and he may go to Fairyhouse (for the Bobbyjo Chase) on Saturday." Mouse Morris (War Of Attrition 11st 1lb): "'I think with that weight they are basically saying they don't want us to run. "'If Albertas Run is rated 164 and we are getting 9lb, that means he's rating us 155. "I entered our horse in a handicap chase at Sandown the other week and they rated him 149 so I don't know how they've come up with 11st 1lb to be honest. "We've decided we're not going to go as we won't be going where we're not wanted and I don't know how he can justify that weight. "The plan now would be to go straight to the World Hurdle and he'll then probably have his last run at the Punchestown Festival in the Guinness Gold Cup or the big staying hurdle race. Donald McCain (Cloudy Lane 11st 3lb): "I would have preferred a pound or two less, but I'm not really surprised and it's pretty much what I expected. "We just have to hope one of those at the top runs now, so we'll see what happens. "He's entered over hurdles at Haydock this weekend and he could go there as he's in good nick and it would just keep him ticking over before he goes for the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster (March 6)." Charlie Mann (Air Force One 10st 12lb): "I'm delighted with that and I was thinking anything under 11st would be a bonus. "He ran really well at Newbury the other day and has come out of the race in super form. "The plan now would be to either find a race at Cheltenham for him or maybe go to Doncaster for the Grimthorpe. Tom Taaffe (Cane Brake 10st 8lb, Glenfinn Captain 10st 4lb, Treacle 10st, Kings Advocate 10st): "Cane Brake has been trained for the race and we'll continue to look that way for him. "I'd quite like Treacle to get into the race as well but I'm not sure if he will off 10st, we'll just have to see. "I guess if he doesn't we'll have a look at the Irish National for him. "Kings Advocate would be a possible if he gets in and I can't rule it in or out for Glenfinn Captain as we were disappointed with his run at Gowran the other day and we're still trying to get to the bottom of that." Jimmy Mangan (Conna Castle 10st 9lb, Whinstone Boy 10st 4lb): "'Conna Castle beat Big Zeb in the Power Gold Cup and he's been high in the weights ever since. "He'll be having a run at Thurles next week and I'd be looking for a big run to prove that he deserves to take his chance in the National. "Whinstone Boy should get in off that weight. He's been a great servant and is in terrific form. He loves heavy going so I'd be looking for the ground to be like when Red Marauder won, but to be fair to Liverpool, they always have it nice and juicy so I'd be happy enough. "You won't see him in the near future but he might have one more run, possibly over hurdles, before the National." Jeremy Scott (Gone To Lunch 10st 11lb): "I'd be happy enough with that and we just want him to bounce back to a bit of form. "He was a bit disappointing at Sandown last time but we found he has one or two little muscle issues and the ground was probably soft enough for him that day. "He's entered at Wincanton this weekend but we'll see what the weather does and he might go there if he gets a bit of decent ground. "He'll probably either go to Aintree or to Ayr for the Scottish National, but it really depends how the horse is nearer the time. "If he goes to Aintree, it will all come down to the jumping.'" Howard Johnson (Lennon 10st 8lb, Abbeybraney 10st 5lb, Royal Rosa 10st 5lb, Belon Gale 9st 12lb): '"The National has been the plan for Abbeybraney all season, which is why I haven't run him since Hexham in December. "I'm very happy with his weight as long as he gets in and I can start getting stuck into him now and get him a run somewhere. "He's still a novice so he's got plenty of options at Cheltenham and places like that. "Royal Rosa has a great weight as well and I think it would just light him up going round there, while Lennon could run as well. "I've always thought he was a stayer but he's been running well over shorter trips. "He ran well at Doncaster the other day but he'll improve half a stone for that and as he jumps so well, he could give someone a right spin round Aintree. "Belon Gale probably won't run and he wouldn't get in anyway." Charlie Swan (One Cool Cookie 11st 1lb, Oodachee 10st 4lb, Offshore Account 10st 1lb): "One Cool Cookie is only rated 140. How the handicapper has come to his conclusion I don't know. "Oodachee is probably badly handicapped but he might get into the race. Offshore Account is nicely in and ran a good race in the National last year. "I'm happy with the weight given to those two, but for One Cool Cookie I'm a bit disappointed. "Oodachee and Offshore are both in the Racing Post Chase. I'll just see what the entries are like. They might go there is the ground was good. "One Cool Cookie could probably run in the Bobbyjo at Fairyhouse on Saturday. I'll make up my mind after that which way we go.'' Venetia Williams (Mon Mome 11st 7lb, Flintoff 10st 5lb, Officier De Reserve 10st 3lb): "Phil has put us up 2lb off our normal rating, which is pretty much what I expected. "In years gone by horses would have had to carry more than that. "He'll run in the Blue Square Gold Cup at Haydock this Saturday all being well and we'd be hoping for a good run and then all roads lead to Aintree. "The Gold Cup is an option. He ran in the Midlands National last year and that would be an option too. "Flintoff would have a chance of running and he'll probably start off in the Midlands National. "Officier De Reserve is going to run this weekend but he probably won't get a run in the National." John Quinn (Character Building 10st 11lb): "He should get a run and he'll have a nice racing weight. "He seems in good form and all being well, he'll run at Cheltenham (Kim Muir)." Richard Lee (Le Beau Bai 10st 13lb): "You always want less weight but I'm happy enough. "He goes to Haydock on Saturday for the Blue Square Gold Cup but he is ground dependant for Aintree. "I probably wouldn't run him if it's better than soft but one of his owners is the chairman of Aintree, so I may have my hand forced!" Charlie Longsdon (Palypso De Creek 10st 6lb): "Phil Smith said he'd try to help us get in after his good run in the Becher Chase. "He's been put up four or 5lb and we're still going to have to sweat slightly to see if we're going to get a run. "He'll either go for the Eider Chase at Newcastle or if it's too soft, he'll go for the Kim Muir." David Pipe (Madison Du Berlais 11st 10lb, Our Vic 11st 8lb, Comply Or Die 11st 5lb, Pablo Du Charmil 11st 2lb, Seven Is My Number 10st 13lb, Piraya 10st 7lb, The Package 10st 7lb, Faasel 10st 3lb, Over The Creek 9st 4lb): "Comply Or Die has been dropped 1lb and has a fair enough weight. "It's been the plan all season for him and he's in great form. He'll either run at Cheltenham or go straight to the National. "Madison Du Berlais has a realistic weight as he likes flat tracks. "He's in at Wincanton on Saturday and in the Racing Post Chase and he may go for one of those. "Pablo Du Charmil had a nasty fall at Cheltenham but all being well he'll go straight to Aintree. "Our Vic has a lot of weight and isn't getting any younger, but is in fantastic form and will go to Haydock on Saturday. "Piraya has a chance of getting in and his owner Terry Neill would love to have a runner. "Seven Is My Number has a fair enough weight and he'll appreciate better ground than last time, while The Package could be interesting off 10st 7lb. "The others probably won't get in." Jimmy Moffatt (Chief Dan George 10st 2lb): "That weight couldn't be more perfect from anybody's point of view, but there's a lot of water to go under the bridge between now and then. "It's a superb racing weight but at this moment it looks like it will be tough getting in the race. "He's a careful, steady jumper and we wouldn't mind a crack at it if everything was right at the time." Ferdy Murphy (New Alco 10st 8lb, Galant Nuit 9st 13lb): "Galant Nuit won't get in but he's a real horse for the future. "New Alco was going to run at Doncaster the other week but that was called off and I've taken him out of Haydock at the weekend as the ground will be bottomless. "We'll give him a run in the William Hill Trophy at Cheltenham and he'll then go to Aintree. "His weight looks fine and I think the race will suit him as he's a classy little horse and I don't think he's ever fallen in his life." Colin McBratney (Ballyholland 11st): "I thought he'd be off around 10st 6lb, 10st 7lb, but at least we're sure of getting in the race. "He's come out his last race in Naas well and he runs again there in a chase on March 7. Fingers crossed we'll get him there in one piece. "That will be his last run - it's five weeks before the National - and Andrew McNamara has committed himself to riding him at Aintree. "You never know if they will take to the fences until the day, but he's a very brave horse and I just hope the ground comes a bit drier for him." Bob Buckler (Niche Market 11st 4lb): "He was still gaining on Denman turning in on Saturday and even Tony McCoy was surprised he was still there. "He kept on galloping and got a little lonely in front. It is one of those unfortunate things that he got beat but he ran a bloody good race. "He has speed and ability and if you look at the credentials you need in a National horse, he has them all. "I knew he would end up around the weight he is, although in your dream world you always hope he may get couple of pounds less. "The weight puts him in the race well, but you do need a bit of luck as well. "At one stage we were going to leave him in the Gold Cup and whether we should have done after Saturday, who knows? "He has always shown us that he is a National horse and I won't get many like him in my lifetime. "To have a live chance in the National is amazingly satisfying but the worrying side is to keep the horse at his best for the day. You wouldn't want a setback two weeks before that would mean you are chasing your tail. "Good to soft ground will be ideal for him. He wouldn't want it fast and will cope with good."
