Grand National weights dismay Nicholls

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The champion trainer reacted with disappointment to seeing Mr Pointment handed a hefty 11st 8lb for the 5 April race.

Mr Pointment was installed at the head of the National betting after an impressive win in the Becher Chase at Aintree on just his second start for Nicholls.

But Nicholls, who has a total of eight entries, fears that by winning that race the rise in the weights could damage his horse's chances.

"He is still very much the one that I am most looking forward to running," said the trainer.

"I just have to hope that he is a few pounds better than his handicap mark. The worry is that we might have shot ourselves in the foot by winning the Becher Chase. We'll have to wait and see."

Just hours after selecting Kauto Star above stablemate Denman as his Gold Cup mount, another riding dilemma for Ruby Walsh became apparent.

Snowy Morning and Mr Pointment dispute favouritism for the National and the former's trainer Willie Mullins shares the services of Walsh with Nicholls.

But it was Snowy Morning who edged ahead in the antepost betting for the race today, with Paddy Power trimming his odds to just 10-1.

Mr Pointment sits just 4lb below 10-time Grade 1 winner Beef Or Salmon and only 1lb below the classy Hedgehunter, winner of the race in 2005.

In contrast, Mullins has been campaigning Snowy Morning over hurdles in recent months and the eight-year-old has been allotted 10lb less than his market rival with 10st 12lb.