GOING concerns and fitness worries were yesterday continuing to throw into doubt the participation of three of the key players in Saturday's Martell Grand National.
The trainers of Suny Bay and Master Oats are both worried that the ground at Aintree will be too lively to risk their charges.
Meanwhile, young riding star Paul Carberry is uncertain whether he will recover in time from a knee injury to partner Buckboard Bounce.
Kim Bailey, the trainer of Master Oats, and Suny Bay's trainer Charlie Brooks would not have been happy with the news yesterday that Aintree is drying out and that the ground is now described as good.
Bailey will walk the course on Thursday to decide whether to run Master Oats. The absence of the 1995 Gold Cup hero will cause the weights to rise by 15lb.
Brooks will wait until as late as possible to make a decision over Suny Bay, who was promoted to 8 to 1 joint-favourite for the race by Ladbrokes yesterday.
The eight-year-old put himself in line to earn a £100,000 bonus for connections when he landed the Greenalls Grand National Trial at Haydock in February.
Brooks said: "Suny Bay is in good shape but we won't decide whether he runs until Saturday morning.
"If the ground stays as it is it will be fine but I am worried because it is drying out the whole
The doubts have not dampened punters' enthusiasm for Suny Bay with Ladbrokes reporting sustained betting support for the grey. They have cut his price from 10 to 1 to 8 to 1 joint-favourite.
Grand National enthusiasts will remember the great race of 1975 when L'Escargot, ridden by Tommy Carberry, defeated Red Rum.
But the chances of Carberry's son, Paul, winning the great race this year are in the balance.
Out of action since March 9th with a knee injury, Carberry had been hoping to return tomorrow at Worcester.
He has been forced to scrap that plan as the knee continues to give him trouble. His chances of riding in the National depend on his recovery over the next couple of days.
"My knee is still a little weak and I don't think it would be wise to risk it just yet," he said.
"I'm going to Aintree on Thursday and hope to get some more physiotherapy there. All being well I'd like to ride out over the course on Friday morning and see how the knee reacts."
Norman Williamson, due to partner gambled on Time For A Run, returns today for three rides at Worcester.
"Norman is fully fit, he must be as his first ride back is in a novice chase!" said his agent Dave Roberts.
"He has been riding out for a couple of days and it has gone as good as gold."
Williamson has been sidelined since he broke a bone in his right hand and suffered a cut over his right eye in a fall at Leopardstown on March 16th.
Jamie Evans, the three-times champion jump jockey in Australia, has been granted special dispensation by the Jockey Club to ride in Saturday's race.
He will partner one of the three Martin Pipe entries, Challenger du Luc, Evangelica and Mugoni Beach.
Riders in the National must have ridden at least 15 winners over fences and hurdles in Britain or Ireland unless the Jockey Club gives special clearance.
David Pipe, spokesman for the Jockey Club, said: "Jamie Evans has been granted a special licence for any ride in the Martell Grand National.
"He has won only six races here but was previously champion jockey in Australia, which the stewards felt was sufficient to grant a special dispensation to ride in the Martell Grand National."
Joe Tizzard (17) is another jockey that has been granted special dispensation to ride.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)