Victor Dartnall has been delighted to see rain at Aintree over the last few days as the build-up intensifies to the John Smith's Grand National.

His Giles Cross, runner-up for the second successive year in the Welsh National at Chepstow at Christmas, absolutely revels when the mud is flying.

His Chepstow conqueror was Le Beau Bai, but Giles Cross turned the tables on him in the Grand National Trial at Haydock under a brilliant ride from Denis O'Regan.

As O'Regan struggles to ride at much lower than 10st 4lb, he sportingly told connections some time ago that he would be unable to do Giles Cross' weight of 10st 1lb, so Paddy Brennan has been booked and he popped his mount over some National-style fences yesterday.

"The horse is in great form," said Dartnall. "We were delighted with him yesterday. We've rigged up a couple of National-lookalike fences and he jumped them beautifully.

"Paddy was very pleased with what he felt and we're all looking forward to Saturday. He's not a complicated ride."

Meanwhile, Big Buck's will face seven rivals in the BGC Liverpool Hurdle tomorrow as he goes in search of an incredible 17th win in a row.

Andy Stewart's pride and joy won his fourth World Hurdle at Cheltenham last month and, try as they might, so far none of his rivals have found a way to get the better of him.