Wednesday 1 April 2015 18:47, UK
Sam Twiston-Davies is delighted to be flying under the radar in the Crabbie's Grand National at Aintree and is excited by the chances of his ride, Rocky Creek.
All of the media attention is on Tony McCoy and his probably mount Shutthefrontdoor but that's music to the ears of Twiston-Davies who will ride last year's fifth for Paul Nicholls.
The nine-year-old has had just three starts since, finishing second to subsequent Gold Cup third Road To Riches at Down Royal on his reappearance in November before being pulled up in the Hennessy at Newbury later that month.
He was off until February when he returned in top form to win the BetBright Chase at Kempton in impressive fashion after which his trainer remarked: "He jumped and travelled well in last year's National and now that we have got his breathing right, the National should be right up his street."
His big race jockey is inclined to agree: "I'm going there with a strong ride and I couldn't be happier.
"The fact that AP (McCoy) is on the favourite in his final year is talking all the attention away from the rest of us and we're very grateful! We can now go there, relax and look forward to it.
"In a normal year my lad and The Druids Nephew would be favourites as they are 9lb and 10lb well-in. Rocky has experience of the track, which will help, and while it's hard to be confident I'm very excited," he told Racing UK.
Robbie McNamara has been booked to ride top-weight Lord Windermere for Jim Culloty.
Last season's Cheltenham Gold Cup hero will attempt to become the first horse to go on and win the Grand National since L'Escargot added the Merseyside showpiece in 1975 to his two wins in the blue riband in 1970-71.
McNamara, who turned professional in November after being a top amateur rider, has partnered Lord Windermere once in public before.
That was in the Dr PJ Moriarty Novice Chase at Leopardstown in February 2013, when they finished a close third to Boston Bob.
It will be his second ride in the world's greatest steeplechase after Majestic Concorde got as far as the Canal Turn on the final circuit in 2011.
Like Majestic Concorde, Lord Windermere carries the colours of Dr Ronan Lambe, who is also likely to represented in the National by Spring Heeled.
"It's a great ride to get and I'm looking forward to it," said the jockey.
"I've ridden him before in a Grade One in Leopardstown and I was supposed to ride him in the Hennessy there as well, but I broke my collarbone the day before. I'm delighted to get back on him.
"I've just had one ride in the race before, that's all. I had a great ride the whole way. He just made a mistake at the Canal Turn, he hit, turned and my saddle slipped and I came off.
"I sat on Lord Windermere last week and he's come out of the Gold Cup very well. He was bucking and squealing.
"I'm schooling him at Jim Culloty's on Friday morning."
One horse who will not be running in the Grand National is Home Farm after he was pulled up in the Gold Cup.
Trainer Henry de Bromhead tweeted: "Home Farm won't run in the National. Didn't run well in the Gold Cup and he's not ready for it. Hopefully one day, but not this year."
