Aintree winner can carry weight of expectation.

Byline: CHRIS WRIGHT 

FOR more than 30 years landing a second John Smith's Grand National has proved too much for any winner.

But last year's hero Comply Or Die may have been handed a real chance of becoming the first since the legendary Red Rum in the 1970s to conquer the Aintree marathon for a second time by Liverpool-born British Horseracing Authority's Head of Handicapping Phil Smith.

David Pipe's 10-year-old landed the National by four lengths from King Johns Castle last season under Timmy Murphy. He will make his defence on April 4 carrying just 3lb more than he carried to victory having been allotted 10st12lb.

With the Denman dilemma out of the way following Paul Nicholls's totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup winner's defection, the weights were unveiled at the traditional lunch at the Sheraton Park Lane hotel in London yesterday.

With all the leading trainers present, Smith made another leading fancy for honours at Prestbury Park next month, the Jonjo O'Neill-trained Exotic Dancer his top weight of 11st10lb - 2lb less than when the same horse topped the ratings two years ago.

Another from Pipe's Pond House stables Madison Du Berlais - winner of the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup as well as lowering Denman's colours in emphatic fashion when the Gold Cup hero returned from injury at Kempton last weekend - is next in the list on 11st8lb. He fell in last year's race, but has been in sparkling form this season and is now just 8-1 with most firms for the Gold Cup.

The participation of both the top two in the list will depend on what happens in the Gold Cup on March 13, but Comply Or Die - who is a best-priced 20-1 with most firms - is firmly on course for his shot at history.

Although he has been wellbelow par on his two runs since his National success, Pipe is hopeful of a return to form.

First he may make his return in Saturday's Blue Square Gold Cup at Haydock, when he will be refitted with the blinkers he wore when powering to National glory.

The Nicholashayne trainer, who has seven entries in total among the 120 currently engaged in the 4m4f marathon, said: "Comply Or Die has been disappointing this season, but we had a quiet start. All I can say is that home he is as good as he has ever been. Last year when we put the blinkers on there was a lot of improvement and we will be hoping for the same again this year.

"I can see no reason why he can't go there again and run a big race."

Pipe knows he has ruined Madison Du Berlais' handicap mark with his Kempton win last Saturday, but he believes the eight-year-old is still on an upward curve.

If he makes it to Aintree, Pipe thinks could do better then when he fell at the eighth fence 12 months ago.

He said: "We obviously didn't think we were going to beat Denman and especially the way we did. We thought we might be second. I'm sure we didn't see the true Denman on Saturday, but it was still a great performance by us. He is only eight now and he is still improving.

"Yes he has got a lot of weight, but the race seems to be staged more for the better horse theses days so it (victory) is not out of the question."

The Irish bid for a seventh victory in 11 Nationals and last year's runner-up, the Arthur Moore-trained King Johns Castle, is among those with hopes of adding to that roll of honour. The JP McManus-owned 10-year-old will carry 10st10lb and is currently a 33-1 chance with BlueSquare. He may return to the track following injury this weekend in a hurdle race at Leopardstown.

Moore said: "I'd hope to run him at Leopardstown this weekend but we'll have see how things go this week.

Regardless of what happens this week he'll run at Naas on March 4, the same race as last year.

"The handicapper seems to have it quite tight between the first three home from last year. I'm happy enough with our weight and it's good to be under 11st at the moment.

Comply Or Die looks well-in as he won snugly last year."

The last two winners of the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National - McManus's Butler's Cabin and Hear the Echo - are vying for favouritism.

The O'Neill-trained Butler's Cabin fell at Becher's Brook on the second circuit in last year's renewal, but has a handy weight of 10st5lb and is currently a best-priced 16-1 with Coral, Stan James, Blue Square and Victor Chandler. Despite Mouse Morris's disappointment at the 10st11lb Hear The Echo must carry, the eight-year-old is also 16-1 with William Hill, Coral and Victor Chandler.

TODAY'S NAP: Prince Of Medina (2.10pm Lingfield).

CAPTION(S):

Trainer Donald McCain and his father Ginger at the Grand National weights lunch in London yesterday