Becauseicouldntsee ready for Haydock

Noel Glynn is confident his Grand National hope Becauseicouldntsee can make his presence felt in the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock (subject to an inspection).

The eight-year-old finished an excellent second in the four-mile National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham last year and looked better than ever when filling the same spot in a fiercely-competitive Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown last time out.

His connections are now dreaming of Aintree glory in the spring and Glynn hopes he can show he is up to that task with a bold show this weekend, if the meeting survives a morning inspection.

"He's in good form. We were thinking of waiting for a race in Ffos Las in a fortnight's time, but we thought we'd go to Haydock as the fences are bigger there and we want to get his eye in for Aintree," said Glynn.

"After Leopardstown we thought about maybe just staying over hurdles until the National, but he might not just have enough experience over fences to be doing that.

"We'll give him this run this weekend and that might be his last over fences, but we'll see how we get on.

"I think he'll run well. I've been talking to the BHA handicapper Phil Smith and he thought he'd want to be on his current rating (144) to get into the National.

"He thinks he'd get in the race with about 10st 10lb with that, which would be grand.

"I don't think weight would stop him. He's a tank of a horse and although they say weight stops trains, he can carry it better than the smaller horses.

"Nina (Carberry) rides him on Saturday. I was thinking of putting a professional on him but Nina wanted to ride and she knows him better than anyone.

"I don't think ground makes a huge difference to him."

Malcolm Jefferson's King Fontaine has already shown a liking for the course with two victories on Merseyside during November.

The handicapper put the eight-year-old up over a stone for the latter success, however, and Mick Meagher, racing manager for owner Trevor Hemmings, admits he has plenty on his plate this weekend.

He said: "He's a grand horse that keeps progressing. He's up to a mark of 142 now after going up 15lb for his last run.

"That seemed a bit harsh but now he has to go and do what he has to do.

"We'll see how King Fontaine gets on this weekend but we could give him a Grand National entry."

Jefferson also believes the hike in the weights for King Fontaine was harsh.

"He's in great order but he went up a lot for his last win. Too much in my opinion, but I have no say over that," said the North Yorkshire trainer.

"I think he's improved but whether he's improved enough to that, I don't know. Putting him up 15lb seems a lot to me.

"His owner loves runners round there and I think he'll run a good race. Whether that 15lb stops him we'll have to see. Some horses do improve that much but others can't. All I can say is that I'm very happy with him."

Pat Murphy reports Maktu to be bouncing following his fine fifth in the Welsh National just a fortnight ago.

The Hungerford trainer felt the nine-year-old might need more time following that Chepstow slog, but he is giving him every indication he is ready to go to war again.

"He's been telling me he's ready to run. I've given him every excuse to tell me not to, but in fact he's in great shape and looks brilliant," said Murphy.

"He didn't lose any weight or anything like that. He's telling me he is in terrific form.

"Three miles around Haydock seems to suit him. They'll go a good gallop, there's a couple of front-runners in there.

"Basically he was just too fresh when he ran in the Welsh National. He'd only had the one run this season.

"He'd missed a couple of races because of the weather and then with the extra two weeks from Christmas he just got more and more on top of himself.

"The Peter Marsh was always under consideration had the rearranged Welsh National been abandoned through the weather.

"It was in the back of my mind. He came out of the race so well we thought we'd make the entry and he can tell me one way or the other. Sure enough he's been telling me nothing other than to run."

Maktu won over the course and distance in April and was only beaten a head by King Fontaine on his next outing in November. He meets that rival on much better terms.

"He meets King Fontaine on 16lb better terms. It's an interesting race," Murphy added.

"Three miles round Haydock suits his way of going about the job. They go a nice even gallop, he gets into a rhythm jumping and then he stays it out so well."