Coleman fighting fit to steer Mon Mome

The Venetia Williams-trained ten-year-old shocked the racing world when landing the Aintree showpiece at 100-1 last year but is a fraction of those odds 12 months on, having finished third in last month's Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Coleman, Williams' stable jockey, passed up the ride 12 months ago to partner stablemate Stan – it was Liam Treadwell that guided Mon Mome to glory in 2009 – and it looked as though Coleman may miss out again when suffering a crunching fall at Aintree on Thursday.

He was given the go-ahead by the doctor yesterday morning, however, and is now looking forward to the big race. "The doctor was very happy and he thought I would be a lot worse than I actually am, but he said it's fine and I'm fit to ride," said Coleman.

"It is a fantastic ride and not many horses manage to be placed in a Gold Cup and also win a National.

"You would have to say he has improved as he was beaten 50-odd lengths in the Midlands National last year as his prep run, and this time he has finished third in a Gold Cup. He does have more weight, but he couldn't be in better form and I just hope we get a clear run and stay out of trouble."

The McCain name has become synonymous with the National thanks to the exploits of three-time winner Red Rum and latterly Amberleigh House. This season the family are again represented by Cloudy Lane, having his third try in the race.

"His preparation has gone better than I could have hoped and he really seems in great nick," said Donald McCain.

"His last couple of runs have been very solid but everything has been geared around Aintree this year. I really couldn't be happier with him and I think he's a massive price. There aren't many in there that I'd swap him for."

There is a often a compelling story behind the winner of the Grand National, but Dream Alliance's tale would take some beating if he were to strike gold on Merseyside.

The Philip Hobbs-trained nine-year-old, born on a disused allotment on an old slag-heap in Cefn Fforest, was set for an early retirement after he sustained a tendon injury at Aintree in April 2008. But, following pioneering stem-cell surgery, Dream Alliance performed a Lazarus-like comeback to win this season's Welsh Grand National.

Hobbs' gelding is owned by the Alliance Partnership, a 22-strong syndicate which was formed by a group of members from a Gwent Valleys social club. Dream Alliance's return to the big time has also aroused the interest of Hollywood, with connections having signed a one-year exclusivity deal with a Los Angeles-based film company. "It would obviously be a fairytale for the owners, and the horse seems in very good form," said Hobbs.

Owner David Johnson believes ground conditions should be ideal for his two David Pipe-trained contenders, 2008 winner Comply Or Die and young pretender The Package.

Timmy Murphy sticks with the former, who was also second last year, while Grand National winner Graham Lee looks a perfect booking for The Package.

Johnson said: "Comply Or Die looks a million dollars and all roads have led to Aintree all year, so he's had a light campaign. The Package is the new kid on the block – you have to go back to the 1940s since a seven-year-old won – but the record is there to be broken."

Roger Loughran, meanwhile, will take the plum spare ride on Vic Venturi after scheduled jockey Paddy Flood suffered a broken collarbone yesterday. Flood's mount Schindlers Hunt fell at the third fence in the Melling Chase, fracturing his near foreleg and having to be put down.

Following one fatality on the first afternoon of the meeting on Thursday, there were two others in the Topham Chase yesterday – Plaisir D'Estruval and Prudent Honour, who both fell at the 13th fence, Valentines Brook. Clerk of the course Andrew Tulloch plans to water the ground today after two drying days. "We will water the 13th and 14th fences after the Melling Road crossing on the Grand National course," he confirmed.