Nicholls primed for four-pronged National attack

Paul Nicholls admits he is targeting Grand National glory this year and will saddle four runners in the famous Aintree race.

The Somerset trainer won the world’s most famous steeplechase back in 2012 when Neptune Collonges claimed the spoils.

It is his only success in the Liverpool contest to date but he will enter four runners this time around and has high hopes for two of them.

Rocky Creek, who was fifth 12 months ago, and Unioniste will line up on April 11, with 2013 Grand Sefton winner Royal Rebellion and Mon Parrain completing the quartet.

The Ditcheat handler has made no secret of the fact that he is keen to win the race again and is hopeful that either Rocky Creek or Unioniste will do the business.

“Unioniste will appreciate plenty of cut in the ground at Aintree and, like Rocky Creek, continues to give me the right signals at home,” he told betfair.com.

“Hopefully it is a good omen that he is due to run off the same mark and weight as Neptune Collonges in 2012.

“Racing anoraks will tell you that Unioniste is too young at seven to win the National but I take no notice of statistics and trends. For me they are there to be broken.

“I don’t mind admitting that I’ve set my sights on the National with this pair all season and I have probably done a better job with Rocky Creek than Unioniste on a point of handicapping.”