'He ran very well last year and my eye was drawn to him when I saw his weight - he’s one I like'

Willie Mullins, trainer of I Am Maximus, Grangeclare West, Nick Rockett, Appreciate It, Capodanno, Minella Cocooner, Meetingofthewaters, Horantzau D'Airy, Macdermott and Spanish Harlem
I Am Maximus will carry top weight and it’s tough, but we had an idea that it would be tough. He’ll probably run in the Bobbyjo, and then we’ll see how he is. He likes the track. Sometimes when horses go back a second time, they don’t like it, and we’ve got all that to take into account, but he had a good experience last year and I’m hoping that it won’t be a problem. I was very pleased with Grangeclare West's run in the Irish Gold Cup. However, he paid the penalty by being raised in the weights, so it’s going to be tougher, but he might take his chance. I’m not sure he’ll run before. I thought Nick Rockett was very good winning the Thyestes. That’s always a good pointer towards the National, so hopefully he’ll take up the engagement. Appreciate It showed a nice change of form on better ground to win at Thurles. Aintree ground is usually lovely, so he has his chance, and plenty of 11-year-olds have won in the recent past. The handicapper’s given Capodanno a chance and he jumps those fences no problem, so I’m happy enough. Minella Cocooner jumps well. He won the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown last year. It’s going to be a tough assignment to win another big handicap within the calendar year, but he’ll take his chance. I think Meetingofthewaters has a lovely weight. He ran very well last year and my eye was drawn to him when I saw his weight. He’s one I like. Horantzau D'Airy has a lovely weight and loves jumping. If he gets in, we’d like to take our chance on nicer ground. We’d need a lot of luck for Macdermott to get in, but after the way he ran in the Scottish Grand National last year I’d love to see him get into the race. Spanish Harlem would need a lot of luck to get in. We’d probably look to run him in the Topham.

I Am Maximus: winner of last year's Grand National for Willie MullinsCredit: John Grossick

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Hitman, Bravemansgame, Threeunderthrufive, Kandoo Kid and Stay Away Fay
That weight is about what we expected for Hitman and I’m looking forward to running him. He’s been running running well lately and has run well in some really big races, so that’s perfect. He’s in on Saturday in the Ascot Chase, but we’ll make a decision on that on Thursday. Obviously, he only ran on Saturday, so I’ll just see what is declared and see how he is. If he runs on Saturday, then he’ll go straight to Aintree. Bravemansgame was dropped two pounds for Saturday, so he’s 11 stone now. As a Grade 1 winner, that’s just the job and we're pleased with that. I’ve had this in mind for him for a while because obviously he’s regressed a little bit from his Grade 1 level, but he’s still a King George winner. He’s been running well this year without really firing and this might just spark him up. He’s come out of Saturday very well and will go straight to Aintree. Threeunderthrufive runs on Saturday at Ascot in the Swinley Chase and then we’ll make a plan as to whether we run him at Aintree or whether he goes to the Scottish National. I’ve got to decide on that one. I know Max [McNeill, owner] would like to run him in it, so he’s definitely a possible. We just wouldn’t want the ground too soft. Kandoo Kid is a Coral Gold Cup winner and he went round Aintree last year – I’d be very happy with that weight [10st 11lb]. He might go to Kempton next Saturday – I need to discuss it with the owner. I wouldn’t run him on very, very soft ground. It’s that option or March 1 at Newbury, where he likes it, over two and a half miles just to give him a day out. It’s possible he’ll run but it’s not essential. Straight after the Topham, I said to the owner there are two targets next year, the Coral Gold Cup and then the Grand National. We’ve done one part of it and it would be nice if we could do the other. He’s got a nice profile for it. Stay Away Fay has got to qualify yet. He’d need to have another run, so I’m planning on getting another run into him over fences before March 18. He could even go to Cheltenham. We’ve just got to get him back right because we haven’t had him right yet.

Gavin Cromwell, trainer of Inothewayurthinkin, Limerick Lace, Perceval Legallois, Stumptown, Vanillier, Velvet Elvis, Yeah Man and Malina Girl
Inothewayurthinkin is rated 160, which is the same as his mark in Ireland. I wouldn’t say he's a certain runner at this stage and we'll look at other options for him, including the Bowl at Aintree. He'll also get an entry in the Irish National. Limerick Lace was running a good race last year before she made a mistake, which effectively ended her chance. She's entered for the Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham again, and there's a chance she could go there and on to Aintree. I'm hoping she's a spring horse, as her two runs this season haven't seen her at her best. Perceval Legallois is a likely runner at this stage. I think we’ll be missing Cheltenham with him. He won over Christmas and at the Dublin Racing Festival, so is in really good form. Both Stumptown and Vanillier could go to the Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham, and then we can see about the National, but both horses could go for both races. Velvet Elvis could be a possible, although he's very ground dependent as he must have some ease. Yeah Man will struggle to get in off his weight. The aim is to go to Haydock on Saturday for the Grand National Trial and try to win it again, as it's a good race in its own right. He’ll also be entered in the Irish National. Malina Girl is unlikely to get in.

Perceval Legallois: a 'likely runner' in the Grand National for Gavin CromwellCredit: Patrick McCann

Kim Bailey, joint-trainer of Trelawne
The aim at the moment is for Trelawne to go to Cheltenham. He would only go to Aintree if the ground was unsuitable at Cheltenham. He needs ease in the ground. He would have to prove his stamina if he went to the Grand National, but that is true for most of them and I think he would be fine.

Josh Guerriero, joint-trainer of Iroko
It’s our first runner in the race, so to have one so fancied is incredible. It puts a bit more pressure on him getting there, obviously, but we’re going to try and have a run before then at Kempton in the Ladbrokes Trophy on February 22. Provided all that goes smoothly, then it’s straight to Aintree. It’s very exciting, he looks made for the race, he’s got the right profile and we’re looking forward to it. We’re very lucky to have been allowed to train the horse for JP, which is incredible, and we’re just looking forward to it now. This season he’s been a bit unlucky in one run and then we’ve just been trying to keep him sharp over a short distance and get him some good race experience at a fast pace and try not to expose him too much so we go there with the best chance possible. Aintree would be one of our local tracks. It’s only an hour away from where we train and we both love it there. I had a winner over the National fences back in 2008 in the amateur race and Oliver’s sort of grown up there with his dad having been chairman, so it’s got a special place in both our hearts.

Henry de Bromhead, trainer of Envoi Allen, Monty's Star, Minella Indo and Senior Chief
At the moment, Envoi Allen is heading for the Ryanair Chase and Monty’s Star is heading for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup. Envoi Allen seems well and Monty’s Star is in great form too. He has come out of his last race well. Minella Indo is aiming for the National, as is Senior Chief. Minella Indo ran really well last year. He’s come out of Navan ok. He ran well and Rachael [Blackmore, jockey] was happy. He’s got a great attitude and has been brilliant over the years. We’re delighted with him. He certainly enjoyed it last year and Rachael was brilliant on him. We’ve opted to go this way and hopefully he’ll run well. Senior Chief ran great at Cheltenham. We were a bit disappointed with him in the Hennessy, but he seems in good form again now, so we’ll definitely aim him at the National.

Minella Indo: Gold Cup winner is set to take in the Grand NationalCredit: Patrick McCann

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Beauport and Broadway Boy
I think we’ve got two nice weights, so I’m very happy. Beauport is very good and he’s running at Haydock on Saturday. He seems in really good form. He’s very different to Earth Summit and Bindaree, but he’s a lovely horse, a good stayer and a great stamp of a horse, so we should be good. Broadway Boy is in good form and the National is his intended target. He won’t run at Haydock on Saturday, but he will run at Cheltenham in the Ultima. We’ve been incredibly lucky in the past and a third success would be lovely.

Tom Gibney, trainer of Intense Raffles
I’d be quite happy with that [10st 10lb]. He was 151 over here, so why should he be any different over there? We’re hoping to get serious now as we get a bit closer. All being well he’ll run again, not this weekend but the next weekend at Fairyhouse.

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I Am Maximus facing 'tough' task in repeat Grand National bid as weights are unveiled 

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