Doncaster on Calgary Bay's route to Aintree

Knight, forever associated with three-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate, rarely runs horses in the Aintree marathon.

However, she believes eight-year-old Calgary Bay – a winner at Doncaster in December 2009 – has an imposing physical stature that is well-suited to Aintree's unique challenge.

Calgary Bay is currently 14-1 with the sponsors for the Doncaster race on Saturday week.

"The Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster is the plan and then the National," said Knight. "I think he will really take to the fences as jumping is his forte but whether he'll get four miles I don't know. They tell me two-and-a-half mile horses are the best horses for the Grand National but who am I to know."

Tom George is working hard to find a reason why Nacarat weakened so rapidly into fourth place in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton.

The front-running grey, winner of the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, looked like being involved in the finish but was eventually beaten 24 lengths by impressive winner Long Run.

"He looked like the winner three out but then he was just treading water a bit at the end, so we're going to look into that slightly," said the trainer.

Peddlers Cross features among eight possible runners for Saturday's stanjames.com Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock.

Donald McCain's stable star was last seen beating off Binocular and Starluck at Newbury in November, and will attempt to further his Champion Hurdle credentials this weekend. The unbeaten six-year-old will have to concede weight all round to his rivals, which could include Nicky Henderson's Soldatino.

Although he has been off the track since winning last season's Triumph Hurdle, the magnificent form of Henderson's yard will give his supporters some confidence.

Colin Tizzard has confirmed that his stable star Cue Card will head straight to the Cheltenham Festival without another run.

Tizzard suggested over Christmas that his charge could still have another outing prior to a bid for either the Supreme Novices' Hurdle or the Champion Hurdle, but he has now ruled it out.

"He's going straight to Cheltenham, but we've not decided which race he's going to run in yet," said Tizzard.