Paul Nicholls on his Welsh National pair - plus key quotes from other trainers

Coral Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase (Grade 3) | 3m6½f | 5yo+ | ITV4/Sky

Those of a certain vintage will be familiar with the racing truism that weight stops trains, but Paul Nicholls is confident that, in the absence of a Cheltenham Gold Cup class horse in the line-up, Yala Enki and Truckers Lodge – the top two in the handicap – are well able to shoulder their burdens.

The pair finished second and third behind Potters Corner in this race last season and events in the intervening 12 months have done nothing to dim Nicholls' enthusiasm for the task in a race he has won twice as a trainer as well as scoring on Playschool during his riding days.

"Truckers Lodge is carrying more weight than last year, of course, because he went and won the Midlands National by 15 lengths," said Nicholls.

"I think it's quite harsh to put any stayer up by the amount he went up, but he loves the trip and the ground. He'll have to put up a career best to win, but he hasn't had a chance to prove himself, having not got round at Kelso."

Paul Nicholls holds two live chances in the Coral Welsh Grand NationalCredit: Edward Whitaker

While Truckers Lodge suffered an unlucky unseat on his only start since the Midlands National, Yala Enki went down by just a short head to Ramses De Teillee at Cheltenham on his seasonal reappearance, before getting no further than the first in the Becher Chase at Aintree.

"Yala Enki always carries top weight and ran pretty well off that mark at Cheltenham when he got beat a short head," said Nicholls. "That was probably a career best and on that sort of form they've both got great chances, albeit they've got plenty of weight."

What the others say

David Pipe, trainer of Ramses De Teillee and Vieux Lion Rouge
They will both like the ground and they both ran in the Becher. Ramses De Teillee didn't take to the fences that day, but has finished second in the Welsh National before. In theory, Vieux Lion Rouge is 8lb well in after his Becher win, but he's a better horse over the Aintree fences, so that might be misleading.

Richard Hobson, trainer of Lord Du Mesnil
We ran him over two miles five in the Grand Sefton for the simple reason I didn't want to bottom him out before the Welsh National, while still getting a feel for the National fences before the spring. As it happens, I could have run him in Becher Chase as he would have been fine with the gap given the delay to the Welsh National. He's in great order and he's been ready to run for a couple of weeks and we're looking forward to giving it a shot.

Cloudy Glen led home Welsh National rival Secret Reprieve in a match race at Haydock last seasonCredit: Grossick Racing

Venetia Williams, trainer of Cloudy Glen
It's hugely more competitive than his previous race over this trip at Fontwell and it might be a little bit harder in that context to have him ridden the same way, which was to be held up last. We had a bit of a problem, which meant he couldn't run in the race on its original date, but he's good to go now.

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of The Hollow Ginge
He ran a cracking race when a running-on fourth in the Ladbrokes Trophy and the visor he wore for the first time there seemed to help. The extra trip on ground he loves should be right up his street and he looks overpriced.

Tom George, trainer of Springfield Fox
This has been the plan all along. He's a horse that must have soft and testing ground, he likes the track and he had a nice comeback over hurdles. Johnny Burke rode him in work a couple of days ago and was surprised how much sharper he is than this time last year. I'd say he's improving and he will get his conditions.

Saturday tipping and analysis:

Pricewise: Tom Segal thinks last year's race might be the key to cracking Welsh National (Members' Club)

Saturday Sizzlers: Paul Kealy has a strong set of bets for Kempton with three cracking plays (Members' Club)

Big-race Trends: look for unexposed types with right-handed form in Lanzarote (Members' Club)

Paul Kealy's must-have banker at Chepstow on Saturday

The Punt Daily: Tom Collins' free horse racing tips on Saturday afternoon

Saturday's free racing tips: our tipping experts with the day's best bets

Spread betting: take this chaser who is tailor-made for the Welsh National marathon test

Nicky Martin, trainer of The Two Amigos
I think he's in better form this year than he was last year [when fifth in this race]. We're off the same mark and the handicapper won't drop us. I think we're slightly high as he seems to struggle off that mark, but he always tries his best. He's very, very chirpy. Matt [Griffiths] loves him and if he'd needed to get down to 10st 5lb he'd have starved himself for a week.

Lucinda Russell, trainer of Big River
I've got absolutely no doubt he'll stay the trip. He ran well in the Scottish National a couple of years ago when he got outpaced more than anything. He's got a bit of class about him, but ultimately he's a stayer and will just keep galloping. I really think the Welsh National is his sort of race. He's got to make up a lot of ground on Yala Enki from his comeback third at Cheltenham, but he always needs his first run. He's trimmed up a lot since then, soft or heavy ground will be fine and the fact he's got 10st 8lb is a bonus.

Prospects improving for Welsh National but Chepstow to inspect again

Oliver Sherwood, trainer of Dominateur
When he won his novice around Chepstow last year I told the owners we might be back for the big one. The cancellation hasn't affected him. He's had an awayday to get the blood up because he's quite laid back at home and he's also spent a few days with Laura Collett jumping. I've been very happy with him and it's just a case of whether he's good enough and gets luck in running.

Dominateur has spent time brushing up on his jumping with eventing rider Laura CollettCredit: Michael Steele

Harry Fry, trainer of Captain Drake
His first run over fences this season wasn't very good, just like last season, so we gave him another run at Chepstow for course experience and confidence. He ran a great race to be second in the Midlands National last season, so we know he'll handle conditions, and he has a good each-way chance if he bounces back.

Joe Tizzard, assistant trainer of Christmas In April
It's a step up in class, there's no doubt about that, but he's a proven stayer in these extreme trips on testing ground, so it looks a good race for him. He's got a lovely racing weight too. He seems in great form and had a nice prep run, which he's come on for. With the covers being down and with the weather we've had, this will take an awful lot of getting and, with no weight on his back, it'll be nice for him.

Tom Symonds, trainer of Bobo Mac
I don't think the delay has done him any harm as he goes well fresh, while Adrian [Heskin] knows him well. The only thing I wonder is whether he wants it wet heavy rather than holding heavy. But he goes there with a good run under his belt in the trial and a fighting chance. We rode him too conservatively at Warwick in a race where they got out in front and never looked back. I'm not concerned about the trip as he was doing his best work at the end the other day at Chepstow.

Olly Murphy, trainer of Calipso Collonges
He ran well in the Becher and had a good blow. He's always a horse who tends to take a run. I thought if he stayed the trip, he could run well at a price. It's a big 'if' whether he stays because he's a strong traveller at three miles, so he just wants to relax.

Saturday previews and analysis:

Members' Club: stay at home, keep warm and enjoy a feast of fantastic racing on ITV4

Members' Club: strong team at happy hunting ground a good pointer to Nicky Henderson's fortunes

Can favourite Secret Reprieve end Evan Williams' wait for Welsh National glory?

Members' Club: picking the right profile: what does it take to win the Welsh Grand National?

Paul Kealy thinks the Finale Juvenile Hurdle is Nassalam's race to lose

'Very exciting' Protektorat out to show Grade 1 pedigree in rescheduled Dipper

McFabulous: a non-stayer or just another who failed to live up to the hype?

Which of Imperial Aura's rivals can give him the Grade 1 test he needs?

Graeme Rodway thinks Paul Nicholls has found a valuable edge for the Lanzarote

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