Saint or Shuffle? Heskin has Double the choice at Aintree

In his first season with Tom George, Adrian Heskin has to choose between two in-form contenders for the Randox Health Grand National.

The jockey, who has ridden 46 winners and earned more than £600,000 in prize-money since joining the Gloucestershire yard this term, could team up with 2015 runner-up Saint Are at Aintree a week on Saturday.

But he also has the option of partnering last month's BetBright Chase second Double Shuffle and George said: "They both have chances so I'll have a chat with him and see what he thinks.

"We need the sun to stay out for them both, last year it rained too much and it was hopeless for Saint Are. But he's in as good form as when he was second the previous year. He ran a very good race at Doncaster last time.

"Kempton was a good trial race for Double Shuffle. I think he'll stay very well, he's a great jumper and he's a young horse who'll take his chance while he's at the right end of the handicap."

David Bass will be on last year's runner-up The Last Samuri, who delighted Kim Bailey in a workout on Saturday morning.

"It was a great moment," the trainer said on The Opening Show on ITV4. "He has really worked well, he's a happy horse and he goes there in the form of his life.

"If the ground stays good it will be fantastic because he'll bounce off it."

Charlie Longsdon has yet to finalise a jockey for Drop Out Joe, who has not raced since landing the Summer Cup at Uttoxeter last June.

"He got a small injury but everything has been geared towards getting him ready for this," the trainer said.

"I took him to Lambourn last Monday and he's fit and well. He's a horse we've always thought would love the fences, jumping is his forte. A mark of 152 may be quite high for him but the fences will suit him and he'll love the trip."

Randox Health Grand National card and betting