Reigning Grand National king Minella Times leads his stable's Aintree team.
The nine-year-old rose to the challenge 12 months ago, when he relished the fences at the Liverpool venue. Giving Rachael Blackmore a first win in the iconic marathon, it was a historic moment as a female rider had never previously scooped the big race trophy.
Minella Times is one of four intended runners for Henry de Bromhead on April 9. The trainer, who celebrated another major win with Blackmore in the Gold Cup several weeks ago, believes JP McManus' chaser is coming into form at the right time.
Priced at 14-1 with Betfred, the four-time winner was pulled up at Leopardstown when last seen on the racecourse in February.
But De Bromhead said: "It has been frustrating with Minella Times so far this season. Obviously, he fell in the John Durkan which was disappointing, and he came back a little bit stiff and sore. We then got him right and thought we had him spot on for Leopardstown and again he was a bit disappointing. But we found a little couple of issues and treated him for those, and he seems really good now.
“He worked nicely the other day and Rachael was happy with him so I’m hoping that we’ve got him back on song. He seems in good form, so fingers crossed. We think he loved it last year and we’re very hopeful that Aintree will reignite him again."
Chris's Dream, 33-1 with Betfred, unseated his rider at the fourth last fence a year ago when travelling comfortably at the time. “He unseated there last year when he looked to be going well and seemed to be enjoying himself, so we’ll see," De Bromhead said.
Court Maid, the same price with the firm, is a new recruit to the stable form Tom Mullins' outfit. Five lengths behind subsequent Cheltenham Festival scorer Elimay at Naas on February 12, she has won over 3m 5f at Fairyhouse.
"She’s a high-class mare and she’s won over three and a half miles and then to be able to drop back over two miles in the Mares’ Chase at Naas (in February) and run as well as she did – we just felt she made a lot of sense and we’re delighted to get her," De Bromhead added.
“She arrived just before Cheltenham and we’re hoping if we can just maintain her form and if she takes to the fences she could run really well. Obviously she has to take to the fences and enjoy that aspect of it, but she’s been schooling well at home so we’re happy.”
Poker Party (50-1) needs three horses to come out to get a run.
“He’s OK but he just struggled on the very heavy ground at Cheltenham but Rachael said he was really enjoying the cross country the other day – just that ground on the Wednesday he wouldn’t handle it," he added.
