03.04.08 - THE GRAND NATIONAL, RACING AT AINTREE

Halo slips but Celestial still a horse to note

Paul Nicholls was back in the runner-up spot after Celestial Halo chased home Binocular in the John Smith's 250th Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices' Hurdle.

Celestial Halo won the JCB Triumph Hurdle on his previous outing at Cheltenham, but could not match Binocular's turn of foot.

Nicholls said: "This is more of a speed track [than Cheltenham] and it was more suitable for him [Binocular]. Our horse will have a summer off, strengthen up a bit and we can look forward to next year with him.

"The stiffer track suited him and we've been beaten today by a mile and a quarter horse on the Flat, whereas our horse was a mile and six type. We set it up for the winner, but that's the way it goes.

"Next season, we'll start off trying those Champion Hurdle trials and see what happens. It might be he's good enough round a stiff track, or it may be that he will want to go further. He's run another sound race."

Asked about his John Smith's Grand National team of four runners - Mr Pointment, Turko, Opera Mundi and Cornish Sett - Nicholls said: "They were all fine this morning and they've all been declared, but we'll just have a look at the ground tomorrow."

Opera Mundi had been a doubt if the ground became too quick, and Nicholls said: "His owner wanted to run him and that's fine, but if it dried out we'd take a look and make an early decision."