Everything about The Dutchman looks right for the Grand National says Tizzard

Fresh from fulfilling his life's ambition at Cheltenham, Colin Tizzard is heading to Liverpool increasingly hopeful live outsider The Dutchman can make him the first trainer in 42 years to complete the Gold Cup-Grand National double in the same season.

Native River's glorious triumph in the sport's most prestigious prize gave Tizzard victory in the race he had long coveted more than any other.

Watch The Dutchman's Peter Marsh Chase win

Now he seeks to win the race that transcends all others in the eyes of the public and will do so armed with a horse he feels has all the qualities necessary to claim the £1 million spectacular.

Tizzard has only twice before been represented in the Aintree marathon, Mister One unseating in 2001 and Joe Lively finishing tenth in 2010.

Eight years on from that last shot at Grand National glory he will seek to make it third time lucky with The Dutchman, who won Haydock's Peter Marsh Chase by 13 lengths in January before being pulled up at the track the following month.

Colin Tizzard with his Gold Cup hero Native River in the Cheltenham winner's enclosureCredit: Mark Cranham

Harry Cobden will be aboard the eight-year-old, who can be backed at 40-1 to add his name to the most celebrated of all racing honour rolls.

"This horse ticks all the boxes," said Tizzard.

GOLD CUP-GRAND NATIONAL DOUBLE-WINNING TRAINERS

1934 Basil Briscoe (Golden Miller won both races)
1953 Vincent O'Brien (Knock Hard and Early Mist)
1976 Fred Rimell (Royal Frolic and Rag Trade)

"If you take away his last run I think he should be in the first half-dozen in the betting. I don't want to sound too bullish, as it is the Grand National we're talking about, but I'm looking forward to running him.

"He's definitely the best chance I've ever had of winning the National. Everything about him looks right for the race. He's a stayer, he's running off the right sort of weight and he jumps well. In fact, when we took him to David Pipe's place on Friday to jump him over the spruce fences he was superb."

Tizzard added: "The last time he ran over hurdles he was second to Sam Spinner and if he returns to the form he showed when he won the Peter Marsh he has as much chance as anything else in the race.

"When he went back to Haydock and ran poorly it was at a time when our horses were running poorly anyway. He also pulled up with blood in his nostrils that day, so he clearly wasn't right. Hopefully we've sorted that out, but we'll find out for sure at Aintree."

Cobden rides principally for Paul Nicholls, who was forced to rule out As De Mee during the week but could still mount a twin challenge in his attempt to follow up the last-stride success of Neptune Collonges in 2012.

Owner Trevor Hemmings, already a three-time winner of the National courtesy of Hedgehunter, Ballabriggs and Many Clouds, bought the Nicholls-trained Warriors Tale following his second in the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster.

He could also decide to give the green light to Vicente, who had been thought more likely to pursue a Coral Scottish Grand National hat-trick on Saturday week. The nine-year-old fell at Aintree's first fence 12 months ago when there was a fortnight gap between the two events.

"Vicente will be confirmed for the National on Monday and could well take his chance," said Nicholls.

"If the ground dries he could certainly be a possible runner. Trevor has Warriors Tale running in the race for us and he has Vintage Clouds in there for Sue Smith as well, but it's hard to know at the minute if he'll get into the field.

"I'm mad keen to go to Ayr again but so long as the ground isn't very soft we would have to think about the National. I had already said Sam can ride Blaklion and I told Harry he could ride The Dutchman, so Nick Scholfield is on standby for Vicente."

Vicente: bids for another National at Chepstow on SaturdayCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Nicholls added: "I could see Warriors Tale running a nice race. He's a solid type who stays and jumps. I think he's gone under the radar a bit."

The Grand National course going description was officially posted at soft, good to soft in places on Saturday morning. However, following 12mm of rain through the day that is expected to have left the track in the region of soft, heavy in places. The chase and hurdles track were soft, good to soft in places before the rain.

Clerk of the course Andrew Tulloch said: "We could have another 4mm to 5mm of rain on Monday. Thereafter we should be dry but with the odd shower and the forecast is not completely settled. We're certainly going to be on the slow side come Thursday."

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