Reaction To The Weights For The John Smith's Grand National.

Robert Alner (Sir Rembrandt 10st 13lb): 'That sounds nice thank you very much. He is well handicapped to be honest. That's a winnable weight. I'd be very happy with that. Obviously we are aiming for the Cheltenham Gold Cup first so we'll have to wait and see. We'll take it one step at a time but the National option is there and that's what we'd be thinking of. Normally he's a very good jumper, he's very bold and brave and there's no reason he shouldn't go round Aintree but until you try you don't know, some horses love it, some horses hate it. He's exceedingly well and I'm really pleased with him.'

Enda Bolger (Spot Thedifference 10st 3lb, Good Step ? not qualified): 'It looks like it will have to be next year with Good Step then! Spot Thedifference looks on a good enough mark but Aintree is still a long way off ? we want to get Cheltenham over first. We are planning to run in the cross country chase at the Festival and then we will see where we are. He hasn't run so well on his last couple of starts but we think he's just starting to feel his 13 years. We've given him a nice break to freshen him up but I think this will be his last season.'

Peter Bowen (Ballycassidy 10st 7lb, Dunbrody Millar 9st 10lb): 'I'd be happy enough with that although Dunbrody Millar will be struggling to get a run. Ballycassidy would be a doubtful runner. He's lost his way a little bit but he seems to be coming back to form. He'll probably go for the Racing Post Chase and we'll see how he goes from there and then he may go for the William Hill at Cheltenham. If he went well there we might think about Aintree but he's not overly big for those fences and there are plenty of other options for him.'

Frances Crowley (Nil Desperandum 10st 5lb, Monterey Bay 9st 1lb): 'Nil Desperandum will definitely be going, if he gets in, and we will head straight there without another run. Obviously you don't want to be too light as then you might not get in but he would probably be towards the bottom of the field, so I'm pleased. Monterey Bay's main target is the Irish National so I don't think he would go to Aintree even if he got in the race.'

Ian Duncan (Another Rum 10st 5lb): 'That sounds good. I need to study the weights but my initial reaction is that it's reasonable. I would think we'd have a very good chance of getting a run off that. I'll discuss it with the owners and we'll decide later on but I would think we'll be targeting him at the race alright. He's in fine form after his run at Ayr and we might run him in the Eider.'

Charles Egerton (Graphic Approach 10st 8lb): 'I haven't thought about it yet. He's fine and I'm going to run him somewhere and then make the plans but I doubt he'll run in the National at this stage.'

Richard Guest (Shotgun Willy 10st 3lb): 'I'd be pleased with that but I just hope it's enough to get in. He's in good form and will have one run before, probably in the next month or so. The National has always been the aim with this horse since we bought him so hopefully he will get a run.'

Michael Hourigan (Hi Cloy 11st 9lb, A New Story 9st 6lb): 'Hi Cloy would be high enough as I thought he would get between 11-3 and 11-6, while A New Story would have enough as well. Hi Cloy will continue his season by running next in the Red Mills Chase at Gowran on Saturday.'

Howard Johnson (Backbeat 10st 6lb, Tyneandthyneagain 10st 5lb): 'I would be happy enough with those weights but I'm not sure either will run. We would have to see how Tyneandthyneagain went before making a decision and he may run at the weekend. I'm not so sure about the other one though.'

Edward Mitchell (10st 6lb): 'That's lovely ? I was expecting us to get more weight than that. The National is definitely the target for him. We gave him a break after he won the Becher Chase and we might send him to Fairyhouse on Saturday week for a run.'

Gary Moore (Tikram 11st): 'I think he's got enough weight ? I would rather have been under 11st to be honest. It was just a speculative entry but I need to speak to the owner now and see what he wants to do.'

Paul Nolan (Colnel Rayburn 10st 4lb, Kymandjen 10st 3lb, Coljon 9st 12lb): 'I will enter all three in the Topham but I think Colnel Rayburn will be my one for the National. He's the heaviest weighted of the three and the majority of the owners are keen to go in the race. He will have one more run before the National, either over hurdles at Gowran Park next week or in the Newlands Chase at Naas, then it will be straight to Aintree. Coljon won't make it with that sort of weight and although we think Kymandjen would probably stay, I don't think he will be running.'

Nicky Richards (Direct Access 10st 4lb, Big-And-Bold 8st 13lb): 'Big-And-Bold won't be running. That's just a nice racing weight for the other horse. I hope he gets in because that's what we've trained him for. I just hope he gets in and I get him there in one piece. He won't run in the Eider and he won't run in a race before the National but he might have a racecourse gallop or two somewhere just to freshen him up. You have to be supremely fit for the National and hopefully he will be. He's been away for two months hunting over in Northumberland and he's come back as fresh as a daisy so hopefully we'll go to Aintree all guns blazing, get a bit of luck in running and hope for the best.'

Harvey Smith for Sue Smith (Chives 11st, Ross Comm 10st 3lb, Royal Emperor 10st 3lb, Artic Jack 9st 5lb): 'Artic Jack probably won't get a run. We hope to run the other three if possible. Chives is in very good order and he runs on Saturday at Haydock. Royal Emperor ran well at Ayr on Saturday and we like to give them 10 days to a fortnight between races and he'll maybe have one, two or even three runs before Aintree and then we can get him really sparkling. Ross Comm would very nearly have won the Hennessy. He lost his footing on landing, took a stride and then did the splits. He jumps well and he stays. He's ready now and he'll have a couple of runs before Aintree.'

Paul Webber (Patricksnineteenth 10st 2lb, The Last Cast 9st 12lb): 'I am not sure whether The Last Cast will go but Patrick runs either in the Racing Post Chase or the Eider. He does want good to soft ground and I would love to run him at Sandown and he always runs well there. The Grand National might well enter the equation this season depending on what happens on the 25th and 10-2 sounds like the perfect weight to me.'

By Robert Pratt, Anita Chambers and Martin Kelly, PA Sport