Gunner has Fox Hunters` option

Leading Martell Grand National fancy Gunner Welburn has also been declared for the Martell Fox Hunters` Chase at Aintree tomorrow as a precautionary measure.

But connections stress that the 10-year-old`s aim remains the marathon Stg£500,000 showpiece at the Liverpool track on Saturday.

However, he needs four runners to come out at the final 48-hour stage to be guaranteed a run in the big race.

Owner Will Ritson said today: 'We`ve declared him because we`re worried that we might not get in the Grand National.

'But our first preference is very much the Grand National.

'We don`t want to mislead anybody. We`d like to run him but what we`re concerned about is that we will end up with no run at all.

'By keeping him in the Fox Hunters` and declaring him we can keep our options open until 10.30am when declarations for the National are made and see whether we are in the National or not.

'It would be ridiculous if we get fined for this but we are trying to do what is right by the horse. He is ready to run and it would be such a shame to leave him on the sidelines.

'The track record of reserves getting in the National is not good and the ground is perfect. If we are in the top 40 we`ll run, if not we`ll run in the Fox Hunters`, which would be rather a letdown after all the hype and build-up.'

Gunner Welburn is generally a 20-1 chance for Saturday`s highlight and won the Fox Hunters`, which is also run over the big Grand National fences, last season.

His last start saw him beaten just half a length in the Christie`s Foxhunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Tony Dobbin, successful on Lord Gyllene in 1997, is booked for the mount on Caroline Bailey`s gelding, who is currently stabled at Tik Saunders` Teeton Grange Farm in the lead-up to the race, in order to comply with Jockey Club regulations.