Mark Walsh to ride well-fancied Jagwar in Grand National

Mark Walsh is set to partner Jagwar in the Randox Grand National.

The 40-year-old faced a difficult choice given the quality and quantity among owner JP McManus’ ranks, but has opted for the Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero-trained gelding.

Walsh rode the seven-year-old to finish second to Johnnywho, also owned by McManus, in the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival. Jagwar’s stablemate Iroko, fourth last year, will again be ridden by Jonjo O’Neill Jr.

“Jagwar has been very good since Cheltenham, he’ very fresh and has come out of the race very well,” said Guerriero.

“I thought initially he might have had a hard race, but he certainly hasn’t been tired, anyway.

“Cheltenham told us that he stayed that trip (three miles one furlong) very well and there’s no reason he shouldn’t stay further the way he came up the hill. He wasted a hell of lot of energy through the race with his jumping and being wide.

“He seems to struggle at Cheltenham with getting into a rhythm and I do think at Aintree with its long straights will help that a lot, he can use his big stride.

“The plan is for Mark Walsh to ride him, that was the whole point of riding him at Cheltenham, to get to know him before the National. Hopefully he’ll stay on and Jonjo will stay on Iroko.”

Iroko was reported to have scoped dirty after the Ultima but remains on course.

“He just had a bit of mucus in his scope after the race, we scoped him before he ran but he’s picked something up in the days before the race,” added Guerriero.

“It was nothing bad, but it was obviously enough to affect his performance. He’s never not put a race in, that was the first time, but then he scoped dirty.”

A total of 14 horses were taken out of the National at the latest confirmation stage, with Grey Dawning, Handstands, Gentlemansgame, Western Fold, Better Days Ahead, Croke Park, Intense Raffles, Myretown, O’Moore Park, Leave Of Absence, Resplendent Grey, Stolen Silver, Search For Glory and Pic Roc no longer in contention.

Dan Skelton’s Panic Attack is now guaranteed a run, taking the last of the 34 positions currently.