Racing: Tom Taaffe admits Slim Pickings faces a different task in a closer-knit Grand National at Aintree this year.
The gelding ran a blinder when third to Silver Birch in the race last year but will have to shoulder at least 11st 3lb this time - 9lb more than in 2007.
"It's a very different race this year because it's a compressed handicap, the lowest-weighted horse will probably carry 10st 9lb or 10st 10lb I would think," said Co Kildare-based Taaffe. "That's never happened in a National before and it'll be a higher-class race this year."
Slim Pickings has failed to get his head in front for almost two years, but Taaffe has been pleased with his big-race preparations.
"He's good. He worked this morning and Barry (Geraghty) sat on him and he worked well, we're very happy with him," Taaffe continued. "The National is the National and we were thrilled with his performance last year, but you've got to be lucky in a National and avoid the mayhem.
"Barry rode him last year and they got on really well so there is no reason why he shouldn't ride him again this year."
Taaffe has four other horses engaged in the National and is likely to saddle Tumbling Dice after he impressed over specialist obstacles at home.
"The reason that we're running him is that he jumps National-type fences at home so well and he's a typical two-and-a-half-mile horse," he added. "If he takes to the track and to the whole thing, I think he'll run a really big race.
"I'd like the ground good. Slim Pickings is fine on a bit softer ground but I've always thought of him as a good ground horse and if it was similar to last year I'd be delighted."
Mouse Morris, who landed the Irish National with Hear The Echo on Monday, will aim to strike again at Aintree with Baily Breeze.
Morris said: "Baily Breeze is all set for Aintree and would have a squeak if he puts everything together on the day.
"I'm not worried about him jumping those fences or staying the trip, I would just like the ground good. His last couple of runs have been on bottomless ground and it's just no good for him.
"He's a Grade Two winner so he has the ability and he is at the age now when he's ready for the race. I think he'll run a big race but I'm never confident in this game."
"The horses were wrong in January and February. They had a bit of a virus but they all seem OK again now."
Ferdy Murphy has been pleased with Joes Edge in the build-up — but concedes the former Scottish National hero, who was sent off as an 8-1 co-favourite at Aintree last year, is not guaranteed a run.
"He's in good form and he'll do his last bit of work on Friday," said Murphy. "We're just keeping our fingers crossed that he gets in now. I think we need about 16 to come out so we should hopefully be all right.
"He is doing really well at home so we'll just have to see."