Talk On Track

Idle Talk will be given no fancy preparation for the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree on Saturday week.

The Trevor Hemmings-owned gelding has unseated on his two most recent outings but will not be schooled over National-style fences prior to his date with destiny in the famous race.

'It's not a thing we do and we never have done,' explained handler Donald McCain, whose father, Ginger, won the race four times during his training career.

'You can lay spruce across a normal fence but you'll never make one as stiff as an Aintree fence.

'The Aintree fences are big, but if you're not going to take to it, you won't take to it whatever you do,' he explained.

Idle Talk got no further than the fifth fence in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham but is continuing to please connections as Aintree's four-and-a-half-mile marathon looms large.

'Touch wood, everything seems to be going to plan. Jason (Maguire) sat on him the other day and he was delighted with him,' McCain continued.

'Obviously you need the luck and as excited as you get about it and about your chances, anything can happen.

'But if he gets the opportunity to go out into the country second time round, I'll be thrilled as he's got the profile of an improving young horse and he has a bit of quality as well.'

Idle Talk is generally available at 20-1 for the National.

(C) PA Sport