Pipe and Madison opt for National

Grand National: The weights for Saturday's John Smith's Grand National will remain the same after connections of Madison Du …

Grand National:The weights for Saturday's John Smith's Grand National will remain the same after connections of Madison Du Berlais revealed he will take his chance under the welter burden of 11st 10lb.

With Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Imperial Commander heading for Thursday's totesport Bowl - a race Madison Du Berlais won 12 months ago - trainer David Pipe has instead decided to let his nine-year-old line up in the world's most famous steeplechase.

Assistant trainer Chester Barnes said: "It has been decided that Madison Du Berlais will not take up his engagement in the Bowl at Aintree on Thursday, but will instead head for a crack at the John Smith's Grand National.

"Tom Scudamore will partner our nine-year-old in the showpiece after schooling him over our National fences at home, he jumped very well and everyone could not be more pleased with his preparation."

READ MORE

While confirming jockey plans for some of Pipe's other National contenders, Barnes conceded Timmy Murphy still faces a tough decision whether to ride 2008 winner and last year's runner-up Comply Or Die or The Package.

"There is still no decision just yet as to which horse Timmy Murphy will ride in the Grand National," Barnes told www.davidpipe.com.

"It is a very hard decision to make. Do you ride Comply Or Die, a previous winner and runner-up of the biggest race in the world, or do you go for talented The Package, who was runner-up at the Festival last month but obviously making his debut over the larger fences?

"A seven-year-old has not won the Grand National since 1940 and although it is a very good choice to have, it is also a very hard one.

"Pablo Du Charmil will be ridden by Danny Cook and Johnny Farrelly rides Piraya.

"We also have Cheltenham Festival runner up Faasel and Over the Creek engaged in the race at the moment, but both of these need a few horses to come out to get a run."

David Casey is "very confident" of riding the Willie Mullins-trained Snowy Morning - despite taking a bad fall at Fairyhouse on Monday.

The Irish rider was feared to have suffered a fractured pelvis, but subsequent X-rays revealed he has not sustained a break.

Casey said: "I'm a little bit sore, but I'm a great deal better than I was on Monday, which is fantastic.

"It's looking pretty good at the moment and I'd be very confident for the weekend."

Paul Carberry feels King Johns Castle could be in the shape to replicate his second-place finish in the 2008 Grand National.

The striking grey was beaten four lengths by Comply Or Die at Aintree two years ago but did not make the following year's renewal.

He has made little impression in four starts over chases and hurdles this season, but trainer Arthur Moore is always likely to have had Saturday's race as the main target.

Carberry, who rode King Johns Castle in the National two years ago, said: "He seems in the same form as he was a couple of years ago.

"I went down to ride him a couple of weeks ago, we popped over a few fences and he felt fine.

"Hopefully he'll give me a good ride round."