RACING: Connections of Wicked Crack are hoping for rain at Aintree ahead of the Waterford-trained mare's Grand National bid on Saturday week.
She has run her best races on a soft surface and her trainer Eddie Hales said: "She's ready for the National.
"We could just do with a bit of rain but we're happy to be going." Hales has been satisfied with Wicked Crack's preparation for the Aintree marathon.
He said: "Everything seems to have gone smooth enough. She's ready to rock and roll. We'll just keep her ticking over with a bit of schooling here and there."
The National weights are set to go up only a few pounds and Hales added: "Around 10st 3lb would be a nice job." The nine-year-old daughter of King's Ride has raced consistently all season.
"She's only been unplaced once and that was when she fell in the Ericsson and she would have been placed that day," the trainer said.
"She was second to Foxchapel King at Down Royal and then she's won for us. Her form is very solid.
"She ran in five point-to-points the year before last. She won three and was beaten a short head twice but she doesn't do tight tracks - it took me two and a half years to work it out.
"She got beaten by This Is Serious giving him about 26lb at Wexford where she just couldn't go round a bend so that was a good run."
Hales has no concerns over Wicked Crack's ability to stay the four and a half miles of the Grand National trip. He said: "She doesn't do quickly. She just keeps going." Riding arrangements have yet to be finalised for Wicked Crack, who is a best priced 40 to 1 chance for Aintree.
Robert Ogden is set to have three runners in the race. He has Marlborough (11st 7lb), Kingsmark (11st 4lb) and Ad Hoc (10st 10lb) in the Aintree showpiece but riding arrangements have still to be finalised.
Soft going would possibly rule Marlborough out of the big race but Barry Simpson, Ogden's racing manager, said: "The intention is to have three runners in the race subject to suitable ground conditions. They say it's currently soft ground on the Grand National course but it's a good forecast and they've got four or five drying days.
"Mick Fitzgerald will obviously ride Marlborough - that's pretty certain - and I think we are going to get a better indication by the weekend as to what jockeys will be available for the other two."
Kingsmark has shown his best form with give underfoot but this is not essential for the Martin Todhunter-trained grey as Simpson explained.
He said: "Ideally he wants cut in the ground but I think the important thing with Kingsmark is that he wants a test of stamina and he comes into his own when he gets a test of stamina.
"We say he wants cut in the ground because when he runs over three miles he's just not fast enough to keep up with the three milers. He has won races on good to firm ground when he was a novice. The emphasis with Kingsmark is on stamina."
William Hill go 10 to 1 Ad Hoc, 20 to 1 Marlborough and 33 to 1 Kingsmark.
Another owner Ivan Straker is under no illusions what it takes to win the Grand National having watched his The Tsarevich finish second to Maori Venture in 1987.
This year his representative is the Ferdy Murphy-trained Paris Pike.
"Like any other horse in the race he needs 50 per cent luck," Straker said.
Paris Pike was due to be ridden by Adrian Maguire until he suffered a broken bone in his neck in a fall at Warwick earlier this month.
Last year's winning jockey, Richard Guest, now takes the ride.
On the betting front Gunner Welburn - winner of last season's Martell Foxhunters' Chase over the Grand National fences - attracted ante-post support with Coral, who trimmed his odds to 20 to 1 from 33 to 1.
GRAND NATIONAL BETTING: 8-1 Blowing Wind, 9-1 Ad Hoc, 12-1 Moor Lane, Alexander Banquet, 14-1 Davids Lad, 16-1 Beau, Papillon, 20-1 Gunner Welburn (from 33-1), What's Up Boys, Paris Pike, 25-1 Smarty, Mely Moss, Bindaree, Kingsmark, Marlborough, The Last Fling, 28-1 Inn At The Top, Wicked Crack, 33-1 bar.
