Don't Push It pleases Tony McCoy

Don't Push It may have failed to sparkle in four runs over hurdles since winning the John Smith's Grand National last season but that hasn't put off jockey Tony McCoy.

The champion says he has seen signs that the Jonjo O'Neill-trained 11-year-old, who is set to carry top weight of 11st 10lb in Saturday's 4m4f Aintree showpiece, has returned to form.

McCoy, who finished tenth on Don't Push It in the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival on the gelding's last start, told the Racing Post: "He's definitely getting better with each run this year. He's improving all the time. The only reason he has stayed over hurdles is because we're preparing him for the Grand National.

"It's a gruelling race and it was more about taking the time to get him right. There's nothing to say that he doesn't enjoy racing because if he didn't he wouldn't have won last year."

Don't Push It is a 14-1 chance with Paddy Power to become the first horse since Red Rum in 1974 to win back-to- back Nationals. The Midnight Club, who won at Fairyhouse in February, is the 8-1 favourite.