'I'd much prefer to have the favourite than a 50-1 shot all day long' - Grand National favourite's trainer not feeling the heat

Tom Gibney has no intention of being paralysed by pressure as he prepares big-race favourite Intense Raffles for a shot at glory in the £1 million Randox Grand National at Aintree on Saturday week.

Intense Raffles is now into 5-1 with Paddy Power but the price does not bother his trainer, who has yet to train a winner this year but is happy the meeting is fast approaching after spending the last year counting down the days with the star of his 30-strong team in Capranny, County Meath. 

Gibney said the world's most famous race has been the plan ever since the seven-year-old crossed the line in the Irish equivalent at Fairyhouse last spring, the trainer's second success in the Easter Monday marathon following Lion Na Bearnai's 33-1 triumph in 2012. 

Who is Intense Raffles?

How Intense Raffles has made his way to Grand National favourite - three years on from beating Iroko at Auteuil 

When asked whether nerves have set in for his date with destiny, Gibney replied: "It's actually a nice feeling having the favourite and hopefully he will run like a favourite. 

"I'd much prefer to have the favourite than a 50-1 shot. Intense Raffles doesn't know he's favourite and we'll do the same things with him we were always going to do. It doesn't matter to us he's favourite. If it works, great. If it doesn't, then so be it."

He added: "You're preparing for it for so long and I'm actually relieved to get this far and for things to have gone so well to this stage that he is actually favourite. That's good. If we can get him there in the same shape as he is right now, safe and sound, I'll be happy."

Since joining Gibney from Patrice Quinton's French base, Intense Raffles has done all his winning at Fairyhouse where he has done so three times, and his close-up second to Nick Rockett in the Bobbyjo Chase at the same venue last time was a career best on Racing Post Ratings. 

Intense Raffles (left) edges out Any Second Now in the closing stages of last season's Irish Grand NationalCredit: Getty Images

He had to give 3lb to Nick Rockett in the Bobbyjo and was beaten only three-quarters of a length, whereas he will be in receipt of 12lb from the winner at Aintree where he is set to carry 10st 10lb. The big-race favourite, who will again be partnered by JJ Slevin, is now rated 156 in Ireland, so he is 5lb well in for the Grand National using that mark as a guide. 

Gibney said: "It was pure relief when he ran so well in the Bobbyjo. Just to see him come back to his best was great. I was genuinely disappointed going home from Navan the two times he ran over hurdles. I was scratching my head but the Bobbyjo showed he was back."

Reflecting on the different demands of Aintree compared to Fairyhouse, he added: "I suppose the fact he's come from France and raced over there on left-handed tracks makes me more relaxed on that front. He's a seasoned campaigner really, so hopefully he'll be fine."

Gibney is counting his lucky stars the double green team of Isaac Soeude and Simon Munir chose him to train the grey gelding in the first place. 

"It was brilliant that Simon and Isaac sent us a horse," he said. "We are a small outfit here and it goes against the trend of the current state of affairs in Ireland and England over jumps. It was a big shout from them and it was fantastic it worked out. To repay their faith in me was huge."

Randox Grand National (4.00 Aintree, April 5)
Paddy Power: 5 Intense Raffles, 6 Iroko, 7 I Am Maximus, 8 Stumptown, 9 Vanillier, 12 Hewick, Nick Rockett, Perceval Legallois, 14 Kandoo Kid, Meetingofthewaters, 20 bar.

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