Grand National: Big Fella Thanks well placed to end Nicholls' Aintree jinx

Just So, who was sixth back in 1992, was the first to be sent out by Nicholls, and he came closest to winning the world's greatest steeplechase when Royal Auclair was second in 2005.

Today, Big Fella Thanks, the 7-1 market leader with Coral and Paddy Power, gives Nicholls a decent opportunity to right one of the very few wrongs on his otherwise-glittering CV, and he said: "We have trained Big Fella Thanks for the race ever since he came in.

"He ran as a seven-year-old and a novice last year, finishing sixth, but he's a lot stronger this year – he certainly would not have won a two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase last year.

"We have not been too hard on him and, with Ruby Walsh on board, we're really looking forward to it. He doesn't want the ground too soft. Good to soft is absolutely perfect. We've done a lot of schooling with him, he has jumped really well and we're very hopeful."

Nicholls, who also has Tricky Trickster, My Will and Nozic in the field, is eager to end his National hoodoo. "We've just been unlucky so far," he continued. "It's a different race, a unique race, and I suppose one day we might get lucky. If we don't, we won't lose any sleep from it and it's just nice to be there with horses with chances."

Harry Findlay, Big Fella Thanks' owner, will be filled with mixed emotions as the eight-year-old jumps away to face the 30 daunting Merseyside fences just weeks after the death of his record-breaking greyhound, also called Big Fella Thanks.

The canine namesake kicked off a 31-run winning sequence when beating Toy Razor in the epic Irish National Coursing Final at Clonmel in 1999, and Findlay is hoping his equine equal can live up to the billing.

"The dog died last month, he was unbelievable for me. He won his trial stakes and everyone wanted to buy him," said Findlay. "He went on to win the final of a 64-dog trial and it was the greatest battle you have ever seen.

"You can talk about battles between Kauto Star and Denman, but you need to watch Big Fella and Toy Razor in the final. Big Fella went on to win 31 consecutive races, which is a record, and he beat Toy Razor again."

Findlay struck his first Grand National bet with a 50p investment on Becher's refuser Boom Docker in Red Rum's third year of success in 1977.

A radio pressed to his ear behind the goalposts at Wycombe Wanderers listening to the likes of Rag Trade and L'Escargot sparked an interest in the stamina-sapping race – but even the thrill of Aintree cannot match his passion for greyhounds.

"Paul Barber bought Big Fella Thanks the same time I bought Herecomesthetruth for approximately the same amount of money," he explains. "He rang me and suggested we went into partnership with the pair as he thought the horse he had bought was good enough to be named after the dog.

"I love all sports and was at the Nou Camp the other night for the Champions League match. You can't beat live events, but there is no sight like watching a greyhound in full flow and to have a Grand National favourite named after a coursing dog – you couldn't ask for more.

"I remember listening to the commentaries behind the goal posts at Wycombe Wanderers and there is no other race I would have done that for."

After finishing sixth behind Mon Mome 12 months ago, Big Fella Thanks returns to Aintree for a second attempt and has the added bonus of having the impressive Ruby Walsh aboard. "He was a little bit slowly away from his fences last year and you can't do that in a National," said Findlay.

"If he takes to it better this time he has a great chance. His weight and the ground are right for him and he has been trained for the race.

"Ruby fancies the horse himself and has half-trained him for Nicholls. It was Ruby who suggested dropping back in trip at Newbury last time and I always knew he would ride him after the Kempton race.

"He is now about 9-1 on Betfair and I think that is about right. People thought the form of last year's race wasn't much good but it is worth a few pounds more now.

"As a kid I just wanted to win a coursing trial but I have won an Oaks and a Derby (with greyhounds], as well as two Hennessys and a Gold Cup so having a National as well might be too much."

TWO NON-RUNNERS

MR POINTMENT and Abbeybraney have been declared non-runners for the John Smith's Grand National, paving the way clear for Cerium and Royal Rosa to run in today's race.

First reserve Silver Birch has also been withdrawn.

North Yorkshire trainer Paul Murphy issued a veterinary certificate for Mr Pointment and is to rely upon stablemate Cerium. The nine-year-old, who is due to be ridden by Davy Russell, finished fifth in last year's National at odds of 100-1.

Howard Johnson has also substituted Royal Rosa for Abbeybraney after the latter had not eaten up overnight. The Graham Wylie-owned 11-year-old is set to be partnered by Wilson Renwick.

Knowhere, the fourth reserve on the initial list, has been eliminated.