Taaffe Chasing Rich Pickings

Tom Taaffe admits Slim Pickings faces a different task in a closer-knit John Smith´s Grand National this year.

The gelding ran a blinder when third to Silver Birch in the Aintree spectacular last year but will have to shoulder at least 11st 3lb this time - 9lb more than in 2007.

"It´s a very different race this year because it´s a compressed handicap, the lowest-weighted horse will probably carry 10st 9lb or 10st 10lb I would think," said County Kildare-based Taaffe.

"That´s never happened in a National before and it´ll be a higher-class race this year."

Slim Pickings has failed to get his head in front for almost two years, but Taaffe has been pleased with his big-race preparations.

"He´s good, we´re very happy with him," Taaffe continued.

"The National is the National and we were thrilled with his performance last year, but you´ve got to be lucky in a National and avoid the mayhem.

"Barry (Geraghty) rode him last year and they got on really well so there is no reason why he shouldn´t ride him again this year."

Taaffe has four other horses engaged in the National and is likely to saddle Tumbling Dice after he impressed over specialist obstacles at home.

"The reason that we´re running him is that he jumps National-type fences at home so well and he´s a typical two-and-a-half-mile horse," he told At The Races.

"If he takes to the track and to the whole thing, I think he´ll run a really big race.

"I´d like the ground good. Slim Pickings is fine on a bit softer ground but I´ve always thought of him as a good ground horse and if it was similar to last year I´d be delighted."

(C) PA Sport