NICHOLLS HIGH FIVE

Paul Nicholls has said he could end up running all five of his Randox Grand National contenders after learning their weights for the world's greatest steeplechase.

- By Nick Seddon

The 14-times Champion Trainer has saddled a total of 78 runners in the race through his career, winning it once with Neptune Collonges in 2012.

However, he has not had a runner in the Aintree showpiece since Yala Enki and Give Me A Copper in 2021 and has not had a horse finish the race since 2017 when Just A Par finished 14th, Le Mercurey was 12th and Wonderful Charm was 19th.

Speaking after learning the weights for all five of his entries for the race on April 5, Nicholls admitted: "We haven't had anything suitable for a good few years so it's nice to have some horses with nice chances. It's conceivable that they could all go there." Ditcheat-based Nicholls saddled his first runner in the race in 1992 when Just So finished sixth and has had six runners in the race on two occasions 2006 and 2016.

After discovering the weights for each of this year's entries he assessed their chances: HITMAN -rated 156 and given a weight of 11st 1lb.