Beaumont's National hopes for Niki Dee

Trainer Peter Beaumont is hoping that Niki Dee will join Young Kenny in the Martell Grand National line-up even though the 11-year-old has not run since being pulled up at Punchestown in May last year.

Niki Dee finished third to Papillon in last year's Aintree marathon but has had a tendon problem this season.

Following yesterday's announcement of the weights for the race which takes place on 7 April, Beaumont revealed: "Niki Dee is back cantering and seems fine but it could be a race against time.

"I would like to get a race into him before the National obviously but as long as I am happy with him I would not be too worried about going there without another."

Young Kenny, who has been allotted 10st 12lb for the Aintree showpiece - 12lb more than his stable companion - missed Saturday's Singer & Friedlander National Trial at Uttoxeter because of a slight muscle problem but is on course to reappear in the Tote Northern National at Newcastle on Saturday week.

"With hindsight I am not too disappointed that he did not run even though he had beaten the winner (Flaked Oats) before," Beaumont said.

"The ground was very, very testing and having a hard race in it could finish a horse for the season." Beaumont also had news of Bobby Grant, who has been operated on after cracking a bone in a hind leg last month.

"He has had some screws inserted in the leg during an operation at Newmarket and he came back home on Friday night," Beaumont said.

"He seems well in himself, will have the bandages taken off in a few days time and then have x-rays at the end of March to see how things are going.

"We will give him all the time he needs but he will be back for next season and hopefully be as good as ever. Cherry Dee suffered a similar type of injury but came back and won so we are very hopeful for Bobby."

On the betting front, most bookmakers have installed Papillon as favourite with Ladbrokes offering only 10-1 against the Ted Walsh-trained chaser landing the race for the second year in succession.

Coral take a different view with Young Kenny (14-1) their market leader followed by Papillon, Noble Lord and Beau all quoted at 16-1.