The annual guessing-game over the going for the Martell Grand National took a swing today when after a dry night.
The going on the National course was changed to Good to Soft, Good places against the background of a dry forecast for the remainder of the week.
While the rest of the country endured rain, snow and gales, the Aintree turf started to dry up leaving clerk of the course Ian Renton to employ a policy of selective watering on the Mildmay and Hurdles courses.
The going on both courses is Good.
He said: "The forecast for the remainder of the week is dry and sunny with overnight frosts.
"Selective watering of the Mildmay and Hurdle course took place today with the aim of producing consistently good ground.
"I would imagine that further watering will be carried out tomorrow in order to maintain good ground."
Rune Haugen, trainer of Trinitro, the Norwegian-trained candidate for the race walked the course at lunchtime today and declared himself very happy with what he saw.
"The course is fantastic, in really good condition and just right for Trinitro," he said. "The fences are not as big as I thought they would be and I think they were will be fine for Trinitro. He is a proper jumper and loves his jumping.
Luzcadou, winner of two races in the mud at Ayr this season, will miss the race with a view to having a spring campaign in France.
Middleham trainer Micky Hammond was another to walk the course, before going racing at Newcastle.
He said: "For a horse that likes goodish ground the conditions are perfect. But Luzcadou won't run because it is not wet enough for him and the forecast is for it to be dry the rest of week."
He added: "There is a good covering of grass at Aintree and it is very safe ground but unfortunately it is not what I want for Luzcadou. I would imagine it will ride faster by Saturday."
"Going a bit on the soft side of good will be ideal for him."
Champion jockey Tony McCoy has been confirmed to ride Dark Stranger as Martin Pipe cleared up jockey plans for his trio of contenders.
With McCoy taking the ride on the Mildmay of Flete winner, the path has been cleared for Glenn Tormey to ride Royal Predica and Dean Gallagher to partner Art Prince.
Gallagher and Art Prince (a 66-1 chance with Ladbrokes for the big race) are no strangers to success.
"I've won on him at Sandown and ridden him a few times so I know him quite well," he said.
"He's a nice, big, bold-jumping horse with some good form and it's great to have a ride in the race, particularly for Mr Pipe."
Henry Daly's contender Star Traveller, who will have his last proper workout before the big race tomorrow, jumped a few obstacles this morning at the trainer's Downton Hall Stables in Shropshire.
"He's played about in the snow today," said Daly. "We popped him over a few fences and he seemed to rather enjoy it.
"He will have his final piece of work tomorrow morning - I am not sure with which horse, but it will be something suitably slow!"
Borders trainer Len Lungo is keeping his fingers cross that Celtic Giant gets a run.
Lungo said: "He would be my first runner in the race and we need three to come out at the moment - I believe Luzcadou, Forestal and Even Flow might go for the John Hughes and if they do that we would be alright, so we are hoping and praying. If he does miss the cut he would go for the John Hughes."
Celtic Giant ran well below expectations at Cheltenham last time but Lungo added: "You can forget his run at the Festival, he got left, but he is in very good form now and will do his final piece of work tomorrow morning.
"But I must warn anyone looking for a sporting interest if he gets in the National, he must have good or good to firm ground, he is hopeless on the soft."
Bruce Gibson, 22, who gained his 25th success on Celtic Giant's stable-companion Supertop at Newcastle today will have the mount on the former at Aintree and said: "I think there is a good chance that he will get a run really.
"We are all keeping our fingers crossed because he is the right horse for the job - but at least the John Hughes is an alternative and I am looking forward to riding over the big fences at Aintree for the first time".
On the betting front, it was a typically competitive day's trading with Ladbrokes reporting support for four runners.
Kendal Cavalier (14-1 from 25-1), Mely Moss (25-1 from 40-1), Cavalero (16-1 from 20-1) and Feels Like Gold (25-1 from 33-1) were the ones for cash.
William Hill cut Red Marauder (11-1 from 16-1), Kendal Cavalier (14-1 from 20-1), Earthmover (20-1 from 25-1) and Mely Moss (33-1 from 40-1).
Coral were another firm to cut Mely Moss, going 20-1 from 50-1. Other outsiders who have been supported with the firm were Feels Like Gold (33-1 from 40-1), Papillon (33-1 from 50-1).
Ladbrokes bet: 7-1 Bobbyjo, Star Traveller, 10-1 Micko's Dream, Young Kenny, 14-1 The Last Fling, Djeddah, Red Marauder, Kendal Cavalier, 16-1 Dark Stranger, Cavalero, 25-1 Earthmover, Niki Dee, Lucky Town, Feels Like Gold, 33-1 bar.
William Hill bet: 7-1 Bobbyjo, Star Traveller, 10-1 Micko's Dream, Young Kenny, 11-1 Red Marauder (from 16), 14-1 Kendal Cavalier (from 20), The Last Fling, 16-1 Cavalero, Dark Stranger, Djeddah, 20-1 Earthmover (from 25), Lucky Town, 33-1 Escartefigue, Feels Like Gold, Mely Moss (from 40), Niki Dee, Torduff Express, 40-1 bar.
Tote bet: 7-1 Bobbyjo, 8-1 Star Traveller, 10-1 Micko's Dream, 11-1 Young Kenny, 14-1 Dark Stranger, Kendal Cavalier, Red Marauder, The Last Fling, 20-1 Cavalero, Djeddah, Earthmover, 25-1 Feels Like Gold, Hollybank Buck, Lucky Town, 28-1 Escartefigue, Torduff Express, 33-1 bar.
Coral bet: 7-1 Bobbyjo, Star Traveller, 9-1 Young Kenny, 11-1 Micko's Dream, Red Marauder, 12-1 The Last Fling, 16-1 Cavalero, 18-1 Kendal Cavalier, 20-1 Dark Stranger, Djeddah, Earthmover, Mely Moss, 28-1 Niki Dee, 33-1 bar.
