MANN PLANNING MORAL OUTING

Trainer Charlie Mann was today hoping to give Moral Support an outing this weekend in preparation for a possible crack at the Martell Grand National.

His progressive chaser, second to Jocks Cross in the Coral Eurobet Welsh National at Chepstow last time, was allotted 10st in the weights revealed on Tuesday for the Aintree spectacular.

The nine-year-old is entered in novice chases at Newbury and Haydock on Saturday, as well as a handicap hurdle at the former course.

Mann said: 'I hope to run him this weekend but I don`t know where - it depends what`s on.

'Haydock looks the easiest race but the hurdle race at Newbury is a possibility.

'He`s in good form and I`d like to get a run into him.

'I want to run him in the De Vere Gold Cup at Haydock and then maybe go for the Grand National.'

Moral Support is quoted as short as 20-1 with Coral for the National and his trainer believes that the gelding holds a good chance in the race.

'He has a good weight and it would be nice if one of the horses at the top of the handicap stayed in to keep the weights down,' Mann said.

'He was jumping fences last season and jumps well and fairly carefully.

'He stays well, the ground wouldn`t worry him and I think he`d have a decent chance.'

Stablemate Celibate holds an entry in Saturday`s Mitsubishi Shogun Game Spirit Chase at Newbury, a race he won in 1999, but may wait until the same sponsor`s Ascot Chase at Ascot seven days later.

Mann said: 'The Mitsubishi Shogun at Ascot the following week is his first preference but we`ll have a look at it.

'He takes his races well and there`s a chance he could run in both - there`s not a lot else for him before Cheltenham.'