Paul Nicholls: Looking ahead to the Grand National

Paul has two horses in the Grand National this year and though he's missing the Weights Lunch as a result of a busy schedule, he's already thinking about his plans for the hardest race in the world.

It is the first time in years that I haven't attended the Grand National Weights Lunch, which takes place at the Savoy in London today.

But I am simply too busy at the moment, with the big Newbury and Ascot meetings this week. And today was the first time in three weeks that we could school on the grass, and we took advantage by sending out three lots. It was really good to see a couple of Triumph Hurdle winners in Celestial Halo and Zarkandar schooling together.

I only have two horses in the National this year, but I am happy enough with the weights they have been allotted.

I am actually thrilled with Niche Market's racing weight of 10st 5lb; it's a lovely racing weight and I am obviously pleased to see that Timeform have him as their third top-rated horse in the race behind Weird Al and Prince de Beauchene.

Niche Market ran a good second in the Becher on ground far too soft last time and good ground in mid-April will be much more to his liking.

"The Niche", as his owner Graham Regan calls him, is really well at the moment and you will see him next in a 3m2f veterans race at Newbury on March 3.

If Ruby doesn't ride him - and he has a decision to make with the horse getting such a nice weight - then Harry Skelton will probably step in.

I still think Neptune Collonges is probably too high in the handicap but I can't complain too much. He has always struck me as the ideal horse for this race and has run two good races at Ascot and Sandown on his last two starts.

He runs at Haydock on Saturday, where he will hopefully advertise his National claims. I haven't thought about an Aintree jockey for him yet, but I will sit down with John Hales at the appropriate time.

Paul Nicholls / 14 Feb 2012