David Pipe-trained Soll is pick of the weights in the Grand National

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/feb/17/david-pipe-soll-pick-of-weights-grand-national

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Martin Pipe was among the dozens of racing’s big names who gathered for the unveiling of the Grand National weights at the Royal Opera House on Tuesday. The 69-year-old former champion trainer was reminiscing about Welsh Nationals of the late 80s, when he twice told Bonanza Boy’s owner the horse was a certainty for the race and was twice proved right, but he was also taking a keen interest in the weight allotted to five horses trained by his son, David.

Soll, arguably the most interesting of the five, has been given a fine chance with just 10st 2lb to shoulder in the great race on 11 April and he may be worth an each-way interest at the 50-1 offered by BoyleSports. The 10-year-old is 33-1 with most firms and, if the Pipes’ hopes are realised, those odds may shorten after he runs at Newcastle on Saturday.

This will be a second quick outing for Soll, who joined the Pipe yard last summer from Jo Hughes. The chestnut won handily at Exeter recently on his first start since May, in the same veterans’ chase used by Pineau De Re last year on his way to National glory.

If he runs well in the Eider Chase, his rating will be raised once more. That will not affect his weight for Aintree but the canny Pipes have realised it would improve his chance of making the cut at the bottom of the weights. There are seven other horses on 10st 2lb and Soll will be admitted to the race before the rest of them if his rating is highest by 11 April.

A fine, big chestnut, Soll has stamina in abundance and that has become the key attribute for the National since the fences were softened two years ago. He was a distant seventh in the 2013 race but it is hardly beyond the Pipes to get a better effort out of him and it is worth noting that he wore a tongue tie for the first time on his debut for them.

Shutthefrontdoor appears to be the horse most folk will cheer for, as he is expected to be the final mount in the race of the retiring Tony McCoy. Jonjo O’Neill, the horse’s trainer, said Shutthefrontdoor was in good form after a second operation on his wind since he last ran. Only one firm is still offering 12-1 while the rest are on 10-1, half the odds that were available a week ago, and this horse may be one of the shortest-priced favourites in National history by the day.

JP McManus, his owner, has the power to ensure the weights do not rise before 11 April, as he also owns Carlingford Lough, allotted joint top weight with Lord Windermere. As has become the custom for this race, the top weights have been given less weight than they should have, as an inducement to take part, but only to the extent of 5lb this time. That seems unlikely to tempt Oliver Sherwood into running Many Clouds, whose main target is the Gold Cup next month. The trainer said the horse was unlikely to run in both races unless he somehow loses his jockey at an early stage at Cheltenham.

Last year’s first two, Pineau De Re (11st) and Balthazar King (11st 2lb) have been given manageable burdens. The latter will skip the Cheltenham Festival, where he won last year, in order to be fresh for Aintree.

Surprisingly, Channel 4 have still to reveal who will present their coverage on Grand National day but it emerged here that a decision was taken some weeks ago. An announcement will be made when the broadcaster is ready to outline all of its National-related coverage.