Norman Williamson will ride Mely Moss in the Martell Grand National at Aintree on Saturday, it was revealed today.
Williamson has opted for the Charlie Egerton-trained gelding after his original mount in the race, Betty's Boy, was put down on Saturday.
The jockey had also been linked to the ride on Escartefigue in the National who, like Mely Moss, is owned by Darren Mercer.
A spokeswoman for Egerton's yard said: "He does run and Norman Williamson rides."
Mely Moss, who has yet to have an outing this season, had an alternative engagement in the John Hughes Trophy Chase at Liverpool on Friday.
Egerton is hoping for a bold showing from Mely Moss on Saturday.
The trainer said: "Norman rides my horse who is a Liverpool horse and is blooming in himself.
"He has not had the ideal preparation as I was qualifying him for hunter chases and when he was 10 days off running he went a bit wrong.
"He had been hunted with the Berks and Bucks Draghounds and is as fit as I could get him.
"My main concern is about Mely Moss getting the trip, until you run you don't know.
"But there's only one Grand National and I have had Liverpool in mind for him for some time. I am very happy with him - I wouldn't be running him if I wasn't."
Paul Nicholls has given Jimmy McCarthy the ride on Escartefigue. The trainer said: 'Jimmy will ride Escartefigue in the Grand National on Saturday and he is scheduled to come down to the yard tomorrow morning to sit on the horse and get to know him.'
Escartefigue, winner of the Martell Cup at Aintree two years ago when trained by David Nicholson, is a 33-1 chance for the National with William Hill.
