Frankie Dettori broke his duck in the Derby last year and Tony McCoy may finally snap his Aintree hoodoo on board Butler's Cabin in the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree in April.
McCoy has yet to finish closer than third in 12 National rides, but Butler's Cabin looks to have all the attributes to help him to land one of the few big jumps races to have eluded his grasp. The winner of five of his 11 starts over fences, he has put up much his best performances on his only two runs beyond 3 miles, showing an excellent attitude to take the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last March and then following up in the Irish National at Fairyhouse the next month.
Butler's Cabin caught the eye when making his reappearance over an inadequate trip at Leicester last month, staying on strongly from way off the pace to take third behind Jack The Giant. On the face of it, he produced a disappointing effort when well beaten behind Gungadu at Sandown on Saturday, but the soft ground there was never going to suit him and his connections will surely be pleased that he has been dropped 2lb for that run.
One of the few among the entries still unexposed given a test of stamina, Butler's Cabin could easily start favourite on the big day. Numbersixvalverde (2005) and Bobbyjo (1999) both won at Aintree a year after landing the Irish equivalent and Butler's Cabin rates the pick of the ante-post prices at 16-1 with Coral and Ladbrokes to emulate them.
Simon was travelling strongly close to the pace when falling second time round at Valentine's last year. He had jumped fluently up until that point, taking well to the famous spruce fences, but is 9lb higher in the ratings this time around and may have missed his chance.
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Irish-trained runners have dominated in recent years, landing four of the past five renewals, and they again have a strong entry. Slim Pickings may be their best chance this time around. He was beaten two lengths when third to Silver Birch 12 months ago and, in common with many recent winners, has been kept to hurdles on his past two starts. He is not handicapped out of things off a 7lb higher mark.