Play it again Samuel

"We have a special potion for curing that," said his Presteigne trainer. Conditions for this year's National could hardly be more different to 2001. From mudbath to bowling green, the ground could well be on the fast side of good tomorrow. Although it is currently good, goodto-soft in places, drying conditions yesterday and today are likely to take their toll.

Much of Samuel Wilderspin's form is on softish ground but Lee believes a sound surface suits best. His charge's best run came on such going when beating one of his rivals tomorrow, Supreme Charm, in an amateur handicap at Cheltenham last November. The Wilderspin team is rounded off by highly promising Tom Doyle in the saddle. He's established a great partnership with this horse - they can get far further than the 11th, where his first-ever National mount - the Nicky Henderson-trained Esprit De Cotte - tried to refuse in the atrocious conditions and unseated him.

"Tom is very much the upandcoming rider," said Lee. "I didn't even look for anybody else. He's ridden this horse since his amateur days and never put a foot wrong. We were worried the horse might exuberantlyover-jump the first and fall. So we replicated the National fences at home and now he's a lot more fluent."

Another horse laid out for last year's National only to find the ground totally unsuitable was Inn At The Top. Trainer Jim Turner did the brave thing and pulled out.

His charge was one of the favourites 12 months ago, but you can get 50-1 with the Tote this time. He hasn't been in the same sort of form, but recent runs have come on his loathed soft ground. Stamina is a worry, but he was second to Heidi III in the 2001 Great Yorkshire Chase.

It's hard to argue with Ad Hoc's chance as a lover of fast ground, a horse that comes right in the spring and, as a Whitbread Gold Cup winner, a pretty sure-fire stayer. He caught the eye when third to Frenchman's Creek at the Cheltenham Festival. Latest jockey Paul Carberry is the perfect foil to his talents.

But fellow favourite Blowing Wind's stamina is too big a chance to take at his odds. Davids Lad would have been a strong fancy, having also caught the eye at Cheltenham. But he's gone in his coat and his yard is sick. Only a slow early pace may have allowed him to see out the 2001 Irish Grand National trip.

Cheltenham Gold Cup fourth to sixth - Marlborough, Alexander Banquet and What's Up Boys - all merit respect, with the last-named preferred as a quirky type to take to these fences. But they all have a lot of weight - like cast-iron stayer Kingsmark. He and Alexander Banquet would also prefer softer ground.

Spot Thedifference has a fine eachway shout for owner J P McManus. Supreme Charm and Frantic Tan fall in the same category.