Derek Fox is confident that Corach Rambler can provide him with a third Grand National success next weekend.
The Sligo jockey's victory on the Lucinda Russell-trained gelding 12 months ago came six years after he won the Aintree showpiece on One For Arthur for the same trainer.
And Corach Rambler is currently favourite for the marathon 4m2½f contest after finishing third behind Galopin Des Champs and Gerri Colombe in the Gold Cup at last month's Cheltenham Festival.
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Fox will not miss the ride on Corach Rambler, despite potentially breaching the whip guidelines at Newcastle late last month.
Reports suggested the jockey could be in trouble with the Whip Review Committee following his winning ride aboard the Russell-trained Clovis Boy at Newcastle on March 26.
However, while the BHA confirmed the ride was being reviewed, and a penalty may yet therefore follow, any potential suspension will not kick in until the week after the National.
"I was very worried about a ban," Fox told BoyleSports, who offer the latest Grand National betting. "I was charged with one strike too many and possible excessive force. I found out on Tuesday that I was only going to get four days for one strike over and I am not getting any more days for excessive force - I was within the rules in the way I pushed him out. That is a massive relief.
"I couldn’t have stood on the sidelines and watched someone else ride Corach Rambler to win the Grand National, that would have hurt. But, we are not there yet! There’s a couple of weeks to go before the race and plenty could happen in between but hopefully we will get there in one piece with no more scares.
"I am pretty happy, with the whip rules, it’s going pretty well. I have had a good run until last week when I twice got into trouble, so that was unfortunate.
"I have always tried to do my very best to keep within the rules. I wouldn’t purposely break the rules or go over. Sometimes I do miscount as I have done in the past few days by one strike but in tight finishes, it is more difficult."
On Corach Rambler's chances, the rider said: "I think he is still capable off of this year’s rating, we will just have to give it a go.
"It will be harder with that weight but he couldn’t be coming into the race any better off the back of a really good run at Cheltenham, he is every bit as good as he was last year."
He added: "All you can do is prepare him well and go into the race with everything as right as possible.
"His run in the Gold Cup gives me real confidence that he is fit and well and feels on top form. With luck in running, I think he can win the National again."
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