The 9/2 chance got the better of a slog with Jack High in the closing stages of this Grand National trial, with Point Barrow and last year's Aintree hero Numbersixvalverde both running encouraging races to finish third and fourth respectively.

Mullins, however, is favouring a tilt at the Irish National, rather than Aintree for Homer Wells. "He's a dour stayer and needs those conditions. He's more likely to get his ground here than at Aintree."

Martin Brassil was equally pleased with Numbersixvalverde's effort. "He tends to jump a bit deliberate in that type of ground but I was happy with the way he stayed on so well. I'll see how he comes out of the race before deciding if he has another run before Aintree."

Nil Desperandum is generally the 10/1 favourite among most bookmakers for the Johns Smiths Grand National, while Cashmans have trimmed Numbersixvalverde's price from 14/1 to 12/1.

For the second weekend in a row, Duty surprised his trainer Kevin O'Brien by following up his Gowran Park win with further success under Andrew Lynch in the Grade 3 Aramark Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle.

Cashmans cut Duty's odds for that race from 33/1 to 25/1, while he is on offer at 16/1 with Boylesports.