Monday 13 April 2015 17:56, UK
Stuart Crawford could call upon the services of Tony McCoy to partner Yes Tom in the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr on Saturday.
With the Paul Nicholls-trained Sam Winner set to take his chance under top weight of 11st 12lb, just 26 of the 54 confirmed entries are in the handicap proper with 10st or above.
The champion jockey's most obvious mount is the Jonjo O'Neill-trained Catching On, who was favourite for last month's Midlands National at Uttoxeter but parted company with McCoy at the eighth fence.
However, he sits on a perch of 10st 3lb and with McCoy's lowest riding weight in the last 12 months 10st 4lb, the soon-to-retire jockey would need to slim down or risk putting up overweight.
With 10st 6lb on his back, Yes Tom may be an obvious alternative as McCoy makes his final appearance at the Scottish circuit.
McCoy steered the 10-year-old to a course victory on his penultimate start and Crawford would be interested in giving him the ride if he became available.
The County Antrim trainer said: "Looking at the forecast, there's a bit of rain forecast for the middle of the week and then it's due to dry up again.
"As long as the ground is around good or good to soft, we'll definitely be letting the horse take his chance.
"We haven't anything finalised on the jockey front at this stage.
"That (using McCoy) would definitely be an option as he's won on the horse before, but I'd have to speak to him and his agent to see if he would be interested in the ride.
"Paul Carberry rode him in the last year, so he'd definitely be a player as well."
McCoy's agent Dave Roberts confirmed his client will be at Ayr on Saturday, but has not yet firmed up a ride in the feature event.
"He'll definitely be there (Ayr on Saturday), but he has no ride in the Scottish National yet," said Roberts.
"He's going to Cheltenham on Wednesday and Thursday and then the two days at Ayr."
Al Co could bid to register back-to-back victories in the race after making an early exit at Aintree.
Trainer Peter Bowen reports the 10-year-old to have taken nothing out of himself after falling at the first fence in the Crabbie's Grand National.
"He's good. He didn't have a race at Aintree. He fell at the first and jumped seven or eight fences after that," said Bowen.
"I'll have a word with the owner and see what he thinks. I'd be happy enough to run him.
"If I put Sean (Bowen, son) on him, that will be 3lb off. It's just that Sean might have to ride for Paul (Nicholls), perhaps."
The Haverfordwest handler has also left in Edmund Kean but he is not guaranteed a run in a maximum 30-runner line-up.
"He'd be a definite runner if he got in," said Bowen.
Sam Winner carries the colours of Angela Yeoman, who is excited about seeing her charge head north of the border after Nicholls decided to miss the Aintree National.
She said: "He's going to run, I believe, and I'm looking forward to going up to Ayr.
"It's a lovely racecourse and I've had a lovely season so far."
Broadway Buffalo missed the cut for Aintree and his trainer David Pipe believes that could work in his favour.
"Missing out on the National may perversely be a blessing in disguise for Broadway Buffalo, who is among the favourites for the Scottish version this Saturday coming," the Nicholashayne handler told www.davidpipe.com.
"Horses that have finished placed in the four-miler at the Cheltenham Festival have an excellent record race in the Ayr race and I hope he will be able to maintain that tradition.
"He will need some rain between now and then and will only run if the ground has suitable cut for him, so we will be monitoring the weather closely over the next few days.
"Amigo is likely to run in the Scottish National. He has just sneaked into the top 30 after confirmations this morning and after a good run at Newbury last time he is not without a chance."
