Weighty task for Windermere

Lord Windermere must concede weight to every one of his 39 opponents in the Crabbie's Grand National on Saturday .

Jim Culloty's 2014 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero gave up his title with a whimper last month, but big-race jockey Robbie McNamara thinks he will relish the unique demands of Aintree.

McNamara said: "I'd be very disappointed if he didn't take to the fences. He's a very big horse and he jumps very well. He's a brave horse, as well. He's got top weight, but he's a big horse and he won't have much dead weight on his back with me riding him."

Nick Scholfield partners Lord Windermere's stablemate Spring Heeled, who won at the Cheltenham Festival last season, for the first time.

He said: "I've been over and sat on him. He's been trained for the race and ticks all the right boxes. He's under 11st, he likes good ground and has a lot of things going for him."

Willie Mullins invariably has a say on the big events, and won the National in 2005 with Aintree specialist Hedgehunter.

His representative this year is the Ruby Walsh-ridden Ballycasey, who must bounce back after he was pulled up in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.

Mullins said: "We probably thought of him as a stayer before we tried other things with him. To have Ruby on your side going into the National is always worth 7lb."

Walsh said: "Maybe the step up in trip will suit him. He's in good form, but he has to put his last two runs well behind him, and that looks unlikely.

"He definitely has the ability - it's in there somewhere - but just getting it out of him is proving to be a bit tricky."

Warren Greatrex has his fingers crossed a dream few weeks can continue as he saddles Dolatulo and Tranquil Sea.

The Upper Lambourn trainer could not stop smiling after hitting the jackpot in the World Hurdle at Cheltenham with Cole Harden and has a live chance of again being rendered virtually speechless.

He said: "They're both in good form. Dolatulo has improved this season. The win up at Wetherby was a good performance and I've kept him over hurdles since for the simple fact that he likes to be kept guessing. He will benefit from going there fresh and well.

"He's run over the fences and took to it well and he's off a nice weight.

"Tranquil Sea, I've kept back on purpose. He's an old boy now. I ran him at Newbury and thought he'd need it more, but he ran on really strongly. He's run over the fences as well and he's in great form.

"I haven't had a runner in the National, so to have two is fantastic. We all know how hard it is even to be competitive in the race, but we'll give it our best shot."