Morris duo's chances '˜non-existent'

The popular trainer was reduced to tears in the winner’s enclosure last April after Rule The World, a horse who had twice broken his pelvis and arrived on Merseyside a maiden over fences after 13 starts, galloped to National glory in the Aintree mud.

It had been a traumatic 12 months for the County Tipperary handler following the tragic death of his son, Christopher, the previous summer.

Rule The World’s National triumph completed a remarkable couple of weeks for Morris, with Rogue Angel having landed the Irish Grand National on Easter Monday.

Wind the clock forward a year and the trainer is set to be double-handed at Aintree, with Rogue Angel joined by another former Irish National winner in Thunder And Roses.

But with no trainer having saddled back-to-back winners since Red Rum landed the first two of his three Nationals for Ginger McCain in 1973-74, Morris is not getting carried away.

He said: “We’re going there with no pressure as the likelihood of winning it two years in a row is probably non-existent.

“They’re two Irish National winners and I don’t think the ground will be an inconvenience to either of them.”

Confirming jockey plans, Cooper added: “I think Bryan Cooper rides Rogue Angel and Mark Enright will ride Thunder And Roses.”

Tom Scudamore is excited about getting the leg-up on current 10-1 joint-favourite Vieux Lion Rouge.

The David Pipe-trained eight-year-old finished a well-beaten seventh in last year’s renewal, but gained a narrow verdict over the famous fences in the Becher Chase in December before landing the Grand National Trial at Haydock in February.

“Personally, I don’t think stamina is the issue it was last year,” Scudamore told Racing UK.

“This year it’s nearly the opposite. In the Becher Chase, he came over the last in third, looking beat, and stayed every yard of that (three and a quarter miles).

“Turning into the straight at Haydock there were two going better than him.

“By the time they got to the line, over three and a half miles in very harsh conditions, he was going further away.

“He’s in very good nick. I had a sit on him (yesterday morning). I was very pleased with him. Everyone is very happy with him.”

Derek Fox is thrilled to make his competitive comeback at Carlisle, just three days before taking the ride on One For Arthur.

The 24-year-old has been sidelined by injury since suffering a fall at Carlisle on March 9, but returns to the saddle with two rides at the Cumbria circuit this afternoon.

Fox said: “I’m 100 per cent sound and I’m just looking forward to getting back now.

“I schooled One For Arthur (on Tuesday) and he went really well. Lucinda (Russell, trainer) was delighted with him.

“He definitely goes there with a big chance and you just have to hope you get a bit of luck on the day and everything goes well. It would be incredible to win it.”

Aintree clerk of the course Andrew Tulloch is not ruling out watering the National course ahead of the big day.

He said: “The Grand National course is mostly good to soft. There is a bit of soft ground by the Canal Turn – it is always a bit easier down there.

“Going down to Becher’s there is a bit of good about it. The ground is just drying out a bit each day.

“We will keep an eye on it and will put a bit of water on if we need to maintain conditions on the easier side of good.”

La Vaticane is currently the 40th and final horse guaranteed a run. The four reserves, as things stand, are Doctor Harper, Bless The Wings, Knock House and Sambremont.

It is 50 years since perhaps the most famous National of them all when Foinavon avoided mayhem at the 23rd fence to cause a 100-1 upset under jockey John Buckingham.

Buckingham died in December last year at the age of 76, but his place in racing history is assured.