His Giles Cross, runner-up for the second successive year in the Welsh National at Chepstow at Christmas, absolutely revels when the mud is flying.

His Chepstow conqueror was Le Beau Bai but Giles Cross turned the tables on him in the Grand National Trial at Haydock under a brilliant ride from Denis O'Regan.

As O'Regan struggles to ride at much lower than 10st 4lb, he sportingly told connections some time ago that he would be unable to do Giles Cross' weight of 10st 1lb, so Paddy Brennan has been booked and he popped his mount over some National-style fences this morning.

Great Form

"The horse is in great form," said Dartnall.

"We were delighted with him this morning. We've rigged up a couple of National-lookalike fences and he jumped them beautifully. Paddy was very pleased with what he felt and we're all looking forward to Saturday.

"He's not a complicated ride. The softer the better for him. He's a heavy-ground horse, which is one reason why he's run only 16 times in his life; he doesn't get his conditions that often. If he gets his ground, he'll run well. He travels, he jumps, he stays, he's straightforward and very genuine."

There are currently five horses on 10st at the bottom of the weights and following the publication of the new order of elimination today Nigel Twiston-Davies' veteran Hello Bud is currently 41st on the list, meaning he needs one to come out to guarantee a run.