Definitly Red primed for Grand National bed

Find out what the trainers are saying about their chances ahead of the world's most famous jumps race.

Brian Ellison believes everything is in place for Definitly Red to run a massive race in the Randox Health Grand National - as long as he has that crucial luck in running.

Ever the optimist, it is hard not to get carried away by Ellison's enthusiasm about the eight-year-old's chances of Aintree glory.

And from his point of view, the Malton handler has done all he can to ensure no stone has been left unturned.

His final race before the National came after the weights were released and if the handicapper had his chance again he would have given Definitly Red another 10lb.

Ellison, who has also been schooling him over custom-built National-style fences, said: "You just hope nothing goes wrong and everything goes right on the day. He's been working very well.

"There are a few National fences in Malton he's been schooling over and he's been brilliant over them.

"He wasn't stopping over three and a quarter miles at Doncaster and that race (Grimthorpe Chase) has been a good trial for the National - he won that well enough.

"Every horse around him, the form has worked out. Good to soft ground would be fine, but I wouldn't want it heavy."

Last year's runner-up The Last Samuri went down gallantly to Rule The World 12 months ago but faces a much tougher task under top weight.

"I'm delighted with him and the preparation has gone according to plan," said trainer Kim Bailey, who won the race with Mr Frisk in 1990.

"He has top weight and it is a lot of weight, but it's a compressed handicap now and he carries weight well.

"We've got to go nearly four and a half miles to go and the rest is in the lap of the gods.

"He's a tough little horse and he'll do his best."

David Pipe is another trainer who knows what it takes to win the race, having triumphed in 2008 with Comply Or Die.

This year he has four runners, but his chief hope is Becher Chase and Haydock Grand National Trial winner Vieux Lion Rouge, who was seventh last year.

Pipe said: "He's still young, he's only eight.

"He ran a great race in the National last year when it was pretty soft ground.

"While the ground will be lovely and safe this year, it will probably be a bit quicker which he handled at Cheltenham the year before.

"He seems to stay very well this year. He still has to stay the trip better than he did last year, but you can say the same about a lot of the horses.

"We have two National-style fences and Tom (Scudamore) schooled him over them on Tuesday morning and he jumped well.

"There was probably no need as he's got plenty of experience over them, but he seems to jump them better than park fences."

Pipe also runs Ballynagour, La Vaticane and Doctor Harper.

More Of That is the chosen mount of Barry Geraghty and though he has never hit the heights expected of him over fences, he remains the only horse to have beaten the great mare Annie Power when she has stood up.

Trainer Jonjo O'Neill still holds him in high regard and he ran a respectable race in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, having previously unseated his jockey at the last fence of the Irish Gold Cup when still firmly involved.

O'Neill, a National winner in 2010 with Don't Push It, said: "He is in good old form. He has come out of the Cheltenham Gold Cup fine. I was pleased with his performance in the Gold Cup but not delighted.

"He just seems to have lost a bit of toe and I always find that is the right time to come to the Grand National with a horse. He is relaxing a bit better and he is jumping well, a good economical jumper.

"He did nothing wrong at Cheltenham, though the Grand National trip is an unknown.

"I cannot see why he won't get the trip, but you never know until you try it."

One For Arthur is trained in Scotland by Lucinda Russell, who is assisted by former champion jockey Peter Scudamore.

Russell said: "He's got loads and loads of scope. His only problem could be jumping too big, but he should be safe.

"I'm just looking forward to the day, I feel a bit sick talking about it now but he doesn't know what's going on.

"When his owners first wanted a horse I asked them if they'd rather win the Gold Cup or National.

"They all said, 'National', and it's also a race I've always wanted to win."

UCELLO CONTI - Daryl Jacob (jockey)

"He had a great run in the Becher, he just got a bit tired after the last, he's had a few good runs in Ireland, he was second in the Thyestes and had another good run in the Leinster National. Gordon (Elliott) is a master and I'm sure he'll have him primed for the day and I'm sure he'll run a good race again."

DOUBLE SHUFFLE - Tom George (trainer)

"Everything has gone according to plan with him. I hope the sun stays out for him. He is showing everything he needs to show at home but we know him well enough now."

PLEASANT COMPANY - Ruby Walsh (jockey)

"I'd say the ground was soft enough for him in the Bobbyjo. He's by Presenting and probably his best performance was in Punchestown last year when he beat Regal Encore. You'd be hoping better ground will bring about a bit of improvement because it will have to. The form of the Bobbyjo Chase isn't strong enough to win an English National, so better ground will have to improve him. He's lightly raced and hopefully there's more to come from him."

BALLYNAGOUR - David Pipe (trainer)

"He's a very good horse. His profile tells you he is either very good or very bad. He does appear to be better on spring-like ground. It wouldn't be the biggest surprise as he's a class horse. He's not getting any younger but the ability appears to still be there."

HIGHLAND LODGE - Jimmy Moffatt (trainer)

"He is stronger again this year and we believe the best way to run him is to keep him fresh. Henry Brooke loves to ride up near the front and this horse is very uncomplicated and likes to be up there."

LORD WINDERMERE - Leighton Aspell (jockey)

"He got as far as Valentine's last year, when I think the rain affected his chance. He won the Gold Cup on good ground, so if it turns up good on Saturday, then you never know. The ability is there and let's hope we can rekindle it. He's been running on heavy ground and that's no good to him."

SAINT ARE - Tom George (trainer)

"It's his time of the year and he has really come to himself. He had a good prep run at Doncaster when he was beaten a head and he has come on a lot since then. If the sun keeps shining for him the ground will be up his street."

VICENTE - Paul Nicholls (trainer)

"He always comes good this time of year. He's always been off in his coat all winter. He was the same a year ago and came good at Ayr in the Scottish National. I have to say he looks good which is a good sign for him because he wasn't that well over the winter, but he was never going to like bad ground. He has come right in his coat which is good."

JUST A PAR - Paul Nicholls (trainer)

"He's won a bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown, he was beaten a head in it last year and the most crucial thing for him is the ground. If it stays dry it will suit him."

MEASUREOFMYDREAMS - Noel Meade (trainer)

"He was probably going to finish sixth or seventh at Cheltenham until he got stopped in his tracks at the second-last (when 13th in the Ultima Handicap Chase). It was a reasonable enough run. Stamina is his forte and he just got outpaced coming down the hill before staying on again. The further he goes, the better. "

STELLAR NOTION - Henry de Bromhead (trainer)

"He's always shaped like a horse that might suit this race so we thought we'd give it a go. He jumps well over normal fences so we hope he'll take to it but you never know. He ran well in the Paddy Power and improved next time out when just beaten a neck. David (Mullins) won it last year and has always been keen to ride him."

ROGUE ANGEL and THUNDER AND ROSES - Mouse Morris (trainer)

"Both horses are going there in good form and I wouldn't like to split them, to be honest with you. I wouldn't mind riding either of them round there."

COCKTAILS AT DAWN - Nicky Henderson (trainer)

"I thought he was a Grand National horse two years ago and he's done everything to prove me wrong, but maybe he can just come and say, 'OK, that hunch you had two years ago is still right."'

GAS LINE BOY - Robbie Dunne (jockey)

"He is in good form. I don't know the horse very well but he seems to be jumping out of his skin and they (Ian Williams' horses) are flying as well. I'd say I have an outside each-way chance but anything can happen.".

LA VATICANE - David Pipe (trainer)

"She's been over the fences before and is a good mare on her day. Whether she gets the trip or not, I'm not entirely sure. She won over three miles at Doncaster (in December)."

" COCKTAILS AT DAWN - Nicky Henderson (trainer) "I thought he was a Grand National horse two years ago and he's done everything to prove me wrong, but maybe he can just come and say, 'OK, that hunch you had two years ago is still right."' GAS LINE BOY - Robbie Dunne (jockey) "He is in good form. I don't know the horse very well but he seems to be jumping out of his skin and they (Ian Williams' horses) are flying as well. I'd say I have an outside each-way chance but anything can happen.". LA VATICANE - David Pipe (trainer) "She's been over the fences before and is a good mare on her day. Whether she gets the trip or not, I'm not entirely sure. She won over three miles at Doncaster (in December)."