Cloudy Lane has been installed as the Grand National 6-1 favourite after it won the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster.

The horse, trained by Donald McCain - son of Aintree legend Ginger - and ridden by Jason Maguire, completed a hat-trick of wins to beat Ungaro. Race favourite Mr Pointment faded in the closing stages after leading. The McCains are hoping Cloudy Lane will follow three-time winner Red Rum and Amberleigh House and become the family's record fifth Aintree success.

McCain confessed he had hardly slept the night before because of nerves, but Cloudy Lane's confident display gave him plenty of satisfaction.

"He was impressive wasn't he? And Jason said he wasn't doing a lot in front," said McCain.

"He has got to the front and he was just doing enough. He is not 100% and I would have been delighted if he had just finished in the first two or three and just run a nice race.

"He's a similar sort of horse to (2004 National winner) Amberleigh House in shape and size and we keep asking him questions and he just keeps coming up with the answers."

Dan Skelton, assistant to Mr Pointment's trainer Paul Nicholls, said he was very disappointed with his horse's run. "That was too bad to be true, and we feel that when we have a good look at him, something will come up," he said. Last year's Aintree runner-up McElvey made a fine return from an injury sustained during the race when he finished a respectable eighth in a handicap hurdle race. "I am pleased," said trainer Peter Bowen. "He's done really well because when he ran in a hurdle this time last year, he carried 10 pounds less, and with 10 pounds less today he would not have been far away. "I will have to decide whether to run him again before Aintree, but he's certainly on target to have another go."

The well-fancied Mr Pointment must carry 11st 8lb for the Grand National at Aintree on 5 April, in which 40 could run from 150 entries.

The Paul Nicholls-trained nine-year-old won the Becher Chase over the National fences last November. The new ante-post favourite is the Willie Mullins charge Snowy Morning who will carry 10st 12lb and is generally around 10-1 with bookmakers. Beef Or Salmon, a 10-time Grade One winner, heads the weights on 11st 12lb.

Next are the David Pipe-trained Celestial Gold and Nicky Richards' Turpin Green who are both on 11st 10lb. The 2007 runner-up McKelvey is among 150 entries for this year's race and a joint-record 38 hopefuls are from Ireland, while 11 entries each are from Pipe and Peter Bowen. Welsh trainer Bowen hopes to again saddle McKelvey, who was just beaten by Silver Birch in last year's race.

A maximum of 40 runners will line up for the contest, with injury ruling out the last two winners - Silver Birch and Numbersixvalverde. Pipe, whose father Martin trained the 1994 winner Miinnehoma, has Celestial Gold, Madison du Berlais and Vodka Bleu among his contenders. The 2005 winner Hedgehunter, who was runner-up the following year, is one of seven entries for Irish trainer Mullins. Nicholls, who has yet to win the Aintree marathon, has opted against running Star de Mohaison but may consider running him in 2009. As well as McKelvey, last year's other placed horses, Slim Pickings and Philson Run, could have another crack. Bewleys Berry and Simon, who were both going well before falling last year, may try again.

Top novice Joe Lively has been given the Aintree option by Colin Tizzard.

John Smiths Grand National, Aintree, 5 April

BEEF OR SALMON (IRE) 12-11-12 Michael Hourigan IRE

CELESTIAL GOLD (IRE) 10-11-10 David Pipe

TURPIN GREEN (IRE) 9-11-10 Nicky Richards

HEDGEHUNTER (IRE) 12-11-09 Willie Mullins IRE

HI CLOY (IRE) 11-11-09 Michael Hourigan IRE

KNOWHERE (IRE) 10-11-08 Nigel Twiston-Davies

MR POINTMENT (IRE) 9-11-08 Paul Nicholls

OLLIE MAGERN 10-11-08 Nigel Twiston-Davies

FORGET THE PAST 10-11-07 Michael O'Brien IRE

MONKERHOSTIN (FR) 11-11-07 Philip Hobbs

TURKO (FR) 6-11-07 Paul Nicholls

FOREMAN (GER) 10-11-06 Charlie Swan IRE

MADISON DU BERLAIS (FR) 7-11-06 David Pipe

RULE SUPREME (IRE) 12-11-05 Willie Mullins IRE;

BILLYVODDAN (IRE) 9-11-04 Henry Daly;

JOE LIVELY (IRE) 9-11-04 Colin Tizzard;

KNIGHT LEGEND (IRE) 9-11-04 Jessica Harrington IRE;

SIMON 9-11-04 John Spearing.

OPERA MUNDI (FR) 6-11-03 Paul Nicholls;

UNGARO (FR) 9-11-03 Keith Reveley;

IRON MAN (FR) 7-11-02 Peter Bowen;

THISTHATANDTOTHER (IRE) 12-11-02 Paul Nicholls;

DREAM ALLIANCE 7-11-01 Philip Hobbs;

FUNDAMENTALIST (IRE) 10-11-01 Nigel Twiston-Davies;

BUTLER'S CABIN (FR) 8-11-00 Jonjo O'Neill;

SLIM PICKINGS (IRE) 9-11-00 Tom Taaffe IRE.

CHELSEA HARBOUR (IRE) 8-10-13 Tom Mullins IRE;

VODKA BLEU (FR) 9-10-13 David Pipe;

L'AMI (FR) 9-10-12 Francois Doumen;

SNOWY MORNING (IRE) 8-10-12 Willie Mullins;

ALEXANDER TAIPAN (IRE) 8-10-11 Willie Mullins;

BEWLEYS BERRY (IRE) 10-10-11 Howard Johnson;

CONTRABAND 10-10-11 Paul Murphy;

DOM D'ORGEVAL (FR) 8-10-11 David Pipe;

MCKELVEY (IRE) 9-10-11 Peter Bowen;

ROMAN ARK 10-10-11 Malcolm Jefferson;

JOAACI (IRE) 8-10-10 David Pipe;

POINT BARROW (IRE) 10-10-10 Patrick Hughes;

SIR REMBRANDT (IRE) 12-10-10 Victor Dartnall;

CORNISH REBEL (IRE) 11-10-09 Lisa Williamson;

D'ARGENT (IRE) 11-10-09 Alan King;

NO FULL (FR) 7-10-09 Eoin Doyle IRE.

BAILY BREEZE (IRE) 9-10-08 Mouse Morris IRE;

BOB HALL (IRE) 7-10-08 Jonjo O'Neill

CLOUDY LANE 8-10-08 Donald McCain Jnr

KING JOHNS CASTLE (IRE) 9-10-08 Arthur Moore IRE;

MON MOME (FR) 8-10-08 Venetia Williams;

NINE DE SIVOLA (FR) 7-10-08 Ferdy Murphy;

ALWAYS WAINING (IRE) 7-10-07 Peter Bowen;

CORNISH SETT (IRE) 9-10-07 Paul Nicholls;

NAUNTON BROOK 9-10-07 Nigel Twiston-Davies;

OVER THE CREEK 9-10-07 David Pipe;

PARSONS LEGACY (IRE) 10-10-07 Philip Hobbs;

PATSY HALL (IRE) 8-10-07 Tony Martin IRE;

ROYAL AUCLAIR (FR) 11-10-07 Paul Nicholls;

ROYAL COUNTY STAR (IRE) 9-10-07 Tony Martin IRE;

TUMBLING DICE (IRE) 9-10-07 Tom Taaffe IRE;

BACKBEAT (IRE) 11-10-06 Howard Johnson;

COMPLY OR DIE (IRE) 9-10-06 David Pipe;

IDLE TALK (IRE) 9-10-06 Donald McCain Jnr;

KELAMI (FR) 10-10-06 Francois Doumen FR;

MILAN DEUX MILLE (FR) 6-10-06 David Pipe;

NADOVER (FR) 7-10-06 Charlie Mann;

BLACK APALACHI (IRE) 9-10-05 Dessie Hughes IRE

CHARACTER BUILDING (IRE) 8-10-05 John Quinn

HOMER WELLS (IRE) 10-10-05 Willie Mullins IRE

PATMAN DU CHARMIL (FR) 6-10-05 Nigel Twiston-Davies

PHILSON RUN (IRE) 12-10-05 Nick Williams

URSUMMAN (IRE) 9-10-05 Niall Madden IRE

ARDAGHEY (IRE) 9-10-04 Nigel Twiston-Davies

BARON WINDRUSH 10-10-04 Nigel Twiston-Davies

BOYCHUK (IRE) 7-10-04 Philip Hobbs

DUN DOIRE (IRE) 9-10-04 Tony Martin IRE

JOES EDGE (IRE) 11-10-04 Ferdy Murphy

KILBEGGAN BLADE 9-10-04 Tom George

COOL RUNNING (IRE) 8-10-03 Christy Roche IRE

DROMBEAG (IRE) 10-10-03 Jonjo O'Neill

DUNBRODY MILLAR (IRE) 10-10-03 Peter Bowen

IN THE HIGH GRASS (IRE) 7-10-03 Tom Taaffe IRE

LONGSHANKS 11-10-03 Kim Bailey

OSSMOSES (IRE) 11-10-03 Don Forster

LE DUC (FR) 9-10-02 Paul Nicholls;

LIVINGSTONEBRAMBLE (IRE) 12-10-02 Willie Mullins IRE

MERDEKA (IRE) 8-10-02 Tom Taaffe IRE

NIRVANA DU BOURG (FR) 7-10-02 Venetia Williams

PAK JACK (FR) 8-10-02 Richard Phillips

THEATRE KNIGHT (IRE) 10-10-02 Howard Johnson

TOM SAYERS (IRE) 10-10-02 Philip Hobbs

BALLYCASSIDY (IRE) 12-10-01 Peter Bowen

BLUE SPLASH (FR) 8-10-01 Peter Bowen

BOB BOB BOBBIN 9-10-01 Colin Tizzard

CAPTAIN CORELLI 11-10-01 Philip Hobbs

ERIC'S CHARM (FR) 10-10-01 Oliver Sherwood

HEAR THE ECHO (IRE) 7-10-01 Mouse Morris IRE

IRISH RAPTOR (IRE) 9-10-01 Nigel Twiston-Davies

LOULOU NIVERNAIS (FR) 9-10-01 Nigel Hawke

NEWBAY PROP (IRE) 9-10-01 Tony Martin IRE

RISK ACCESSOR (IRE) 13-10-01 Jonjo O'Neill

BANNISTER LANE 8-10-00 Donald McCain Jnr

GLENFINN CAPTAIN (IRE) 9-10-00 Tom Taaffe IRE

LAMPION DU BOST (FR) 9-10-00 Jim Goldie

LANKAWI 6-10-00 Peter Bowen

MAJADAL (FR) 10-10-00 Michael Scudamore

TOMMY SPAR 8-10-00 Peter Bowen

WHISPERED SECRET (GER) 9-10-00 David Pipe

BALLYFOY (IRE) 7-9-13 Tom George

INNOX (FR) 12-9-13 Jonjo O'Neill

SWEET DIVERSION (IRE) 9-9-13 Paul Nicholls

TAKE THE STAND (IRE) 12-9-13 Peter Bowen

YOU'RE SPECIAL (USA) 11-9-13 Ferdy Murphy

BOTHAR NA (IRE) 9-9-12 Willie Mullins IRE

FUSTRIEN DU PAON (FR) 12-9-12 Richard Chotard FR

LEADING MAN (IRE) 8-9-12 Ferdy Murphy

NITRAT (FR) 7-9-12 Francois Doumen FR

NOIR ET VERT (FR) 7-9-12 Ferdy Murphy

OODACHEE 9-9-12 Charlie Swan IRE

PREACHER BOY 9-9-12 Ron Hodges

AZULEJO (FR) 10-9-11 Michael Scudamore

FLINTOFF (USA) 7-9-11 Venetia Williams

FLYING ENTERPRISE (IRE) 8-9-11 Evan Williams

IRISH WOLF (FR) 8-9-11 Peter Bowen

ST MATTHEW (USA) 10-9-11 Sue Smith

BROOKLYN BREEZE (IRE) 11-9-10 Len Lungo

NOT LEFT YET (IRE) 7-9-10 David Pipe

OUR ARMAGEDDON (NZ) 11-9-10 Richard Guest

PASS ME BY 9-9-10 Venetia Williams

BURNTOAKBOY 10-9-09 Dr Richard Newland

NATIVE JACK (IRE) 14-9-09 Philip Rothwell IRE

SEA DIVA (IRE) 8-9-09 Dessie Hughes IRE

OSCAR INDIA (IRE) 9-9-08 Henry de Bromhead IRE

MALETTON (FR) 8-9-07 Evan Williams

ROYAL ROSA (FR) 9-9-07 Howard Johnson

THE OUTLIER (IRE) 10-9-07 Venetia Williams

BEANTOWN (IRE) 10-9-05 Sean Aherne IRE

MODEL SON (IRE) 10-9-05 Paul Blockley

SIXO (IRE) 11-9-05 David Pipe

ANOTHER RUM (IRE) 10-9-03 John Weymes

MCEVOY (IRE) 8-9-03 Evan Williams

BOSHAM MILL 10-9-02 Brendan Powell

SILVER JACK (IRE) 10-9-02 Martin Todhunter

VICTORY GUNNER (IRE) 10-9-02 Craig Roberts

FINAL ACT 12-9-01 John Murphy

MR ED 10-9-01

JUFUL TENNIS (FR) 11-9-00 Jean-Paul Senechal Francois Cottin FR.

HENRY'S PRIDE (IRE) 8-8-12 Alison Thorpe

TOULOUSE-LAUTREC (IRE) 12-8-12 Tom George

SECRETOFSHAMBHALA (IRE) 9-8-11 Tom Mullins IRE

WONDERKID 8-8-11 Tony Martin IRE

BENGO (IRE) 8-8-09 Ben De Haan.

The 2006 Grand National winner Numbersixvalverde has been ruled out for the season.

He has not run since finishing sixth behind Silver Birch when defending his Aintree crown in April 2007. Trainer Martin Brassil had hoped to run the 12-year-old in this year's race, for which he was a general 25-1 chance. "He had a slight setback in October and he's taken a long time to get over it. Time is just not on our side so I didn't enter him in the race," he said. "He's out for the season and we will now just concentrate on getting him back next year." Niall 'Slippers' Madden rode Numbersixvalverde, an 11-1 shot, to victory in the National. The entries for the 2008 contest will be announced on Wednesday.