Shropshire trainers wait on spots at Aintree

Ludlow-based Henry Daly and John Needham both have horses entered in the John Smith's Grand National – but neither yet knows if they will be heading up the M6 on Saturday morning.

Daly's Pearlysteps has earned a place in the final field, but the drying ground is worrying the trainer.

Needham's Mortimers Cross is the very last of the entries and needs the eight above him to drop out to guarantee a run.

The final field must be confirmed by tomorrow morning and a maximum of 40 will come under starter's orders.

Daly has until then to decide if Pearlysteps will go to Liverpool, while Needham is hoping for enough withdrawals to make his National dream come true.

Needham, based at Gorsty Farm, Mary Knoll, trains just four horses, all of them owned by him and home-bred.

The 12-year-old Mortimers Cross is a winner of five of his 27 races – including the marathon Borders National at Kelso in December.

He said: "I think it's going to be touch and go. I'm quite excited – this is the only time that I shall have the chance of a runner in the National.

"He's a very consistent horse and he's earned his chance. All we can do now is hang on and hope until tomorrow morning."

Needham is making sure Mortimers Cross is fully prepared in case he makes the final field.

With his own facilities frozen, he has sent him to Lambourn to train over the new-style Aintree fences that are available for practice there.

Saturday's runners will be jumping newly-designed fences with synthetic centres aimed at reducing the risk of casualties after four horse fatalities in two years.

Daly's hopes for the 10-year-old Pearlysteps, who was entered in last year's race only to be withdrawn in the final week, depend on the ground.

The horse is owned by a five-strong Shropshire syndicate headed by Ludlow racecourse chairman Willie Jenks.

The going is drying out in the wind and winter sun and Daly is hoping showers predicted late tomorrow come earlier than forecast.

By Celia Holmes