WITH the John Smith’s Grand National just two weeks on Saturday, connections of several runners are readying themselves for the Aintree showpiece. And last year’s runner-up King Johns Castle looks on course to bid to go one better after he finally returned at action at Naas on Saturday.

The Arthur Moore-trained 10-year-old finished seventh at the weekend in the same handicap hurdle race at Naas that he won en route to finishing a four-length second behind National hero Comply Or Die at Aintree 12 months ago.

Initially connections thought he would miss the 4m4f marathon this year with a tendon injury.

But after showing good progress in his recovery, the grey gelding proved his fitness at the weekend and is a best-priced 25-1 with most bookmakers.

Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus, said: “He’s come out of the race fine. All being well he’ll go straight to Aintree now, that’s the plan.”

McManus will again have a big team at Aintree as he bids for a first success in the Grand National after several near misses.

Butlers Cabin is one of his main hopes and is currently the joint 12-1 favourite with several firms including William Hill.

The Jonjo O’Neill-trained nine-year-old fell at Becher’s Brook second time around in last year’s National when going well. He ran an excellent race last week to finish fifth behind Character Building in the Kim Muir Challenge Cup at Cheltenham.

Berry added: “We were very pleased the way he ran at Cheltenham and he goes straight for the National.”

Donald McCain junior has both Cloudy Lane and Idle Talk in ideal condition ahead of the Grand National on April 4.

Cloudy Lane fell on his latest outing when a warm favourite at Kelso.

The Trevor Hemmings-owned nine-year-old, who was sixth to Comply Or Die in last year’s National, is a best-priced 25-1 with most firms. While Idle Talk, also owned by Lancastrian Hemmings, was 14th of the 15 finishers last year. He ran a good race to finish third in Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster last time and is a 100-1 chance with Ladbrokes among other for the Aintree marathon.

McCain said: “Both are in full work and in good nick. The sun’s shining which has done them a bit of good. There are no problems.

“I won’t be giving Idle Talk a racecourse gallop but we’ll be taking Cloudy Lane somewhere. I don’t know where or when yet, but everything’s grand.”

Meanwhile Gordon Elliott is delighted with 2007 Grand National winner Silver Birch and said he is on course for Aintree again following a prep run over hurdles at Navan on Sunday.

The 12-year-old finished ninth of 10 in the Slane Handicap Hurdle over 2m7f in his first run under rules since his National success two years ago.

Silver Birch has been off the track since then, but Irish handler Elliott said: “He’s 100%, everything’s fine and he’s still on track for the National. He’s become a bit cute at home so we had to get a good blow into him.

“He’ll just do a few good bits of work at home between now and the National – we won’t run him again. He’s got a bit clever at home so we had to run him yesterday to get a good blow into him.

“We’ll probably put cheekpieces on him at Aintree to help him concentrate. The ground wasn’t nice yesterday and they didn’t go a great gallop, but we’re happy enough with him and he’s fine this morning.”

Silver Birch is a best-priced 50-1 to become the first horse since the great Red Rum to win a second National and has the same 10st6lb he carried to victory two years ago.

A number of horses will be taken out of the race at the next declaration stage today including the John Spearing-trained Simon, who fell at Valentines on the second circuit in the last two Nationals.

The 10-year-old, owned and bred by former trainer Mercy Rimell, will not run again this season after pulling up three fences from home in the William Hill Trophy, won by Wichita Lineman.

Spearing said: “He’s all right but we decided he hasn’t had a very good year. We couldn’t get him quite as we wanted him so we are going to leave him off until next year.”

Miko de Beauchene, who won the Welsh National last season, will not run at Aintree but will instead head to Ayr for the Coral Scottish Grand National.

The nine-year-old, trained by Robert and Sally Alner, was none the worse for wear after his fall in at the fourth-last fence in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

While this year’s Welsh National hero Notre Pere, who was ruled out of the Gold Cup through injury, will also be taken out of Grand National due to the setback.

TODAY’S NAP: Taipan’s Promise (2.30pm Kempton)