Niche in shape to corner the market

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The 20-year-old son of international showjumper Nick Skelton partnered Niche Market to victory on his first attempt in the Irish Grand National last year.

And he's hoping that it will be first time lucky again at Aintree for the Bob Buckler-trained nine-year-old, who ran a fine trial when beaten 15 lengths in the William Hill Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival earlier this month.

Skelton said: "I'm really looking forward to it and he looks to have a major chance if he takes to the fences at Aintree.

"He ran well at Cheltenham. He was going the same speed at the top of the hill as he was when he passed the post. I knew I was going to get done for speed, because all he does is gallop, but he jumped well and he had a hard blow afterwards. That will have put him spot on."

Skelton needs four more winners to ride out his 3lb claim and although he will not be able to use it in the Grand National, he says it won't make much difference to Graham Regan's lightly-raced horse, who shoulders 11st 4lb and is currently a best-priced 16-1 with Sky Bet.

"He's got a fair weight but the main thing is just to get into a good rhythm.

"Irish National winners have a good record in the race and he's a spring horse, he loves the sun on his back and relishes better ground."

Meanwhile, Tony McCoy is likely to ride either Can't Buy Time or Don't Push It in the Aintree showpeice which means Paul Townend will ride the well-backed Willie Mullins-trained Arbor Supreme, who is 14-1 with totesport.