Previous experience over Aintree's unique fences is often cited as an asset for runners in the John Smith's Grand National. For Paul Nicholls, however, Mr Pointment's Becher Chase triumph in November came back to haunt him when the official weights for this year's renewal were unveiled in London yesterday.

Mr Pointment's prowess over the Aintree birch prompted the handicapper to weight him accordingly for the world's most famous race on April 5. The eight-year-old has traded as Grand National favourite since he resisted Bewleys Berry over the course ten weeks ago. Yesterday, however, Mr Pointment forfeited that role to Snowy Morning, the Willie Mullins-trained gelding who has never run at Aintree.

“I may have blown it by winning the Becher Chase,” Nicholls said when he saw Mr Pointment slated on 11st 8lb. “One thing in the horse's favour is that he has run only twice for me. He may still be improving, in which case the weight may not matter that much.”

The champion trainer, still without a Grand National winner, took over Mr Pointment from Charlie Egerton last summer. But he knows that the only horse to defy a similar burden in the last 50 years was Red Rum. Bewleys Berry, who has greater Aintree experience than Mr Pointment, can reoppose on 3lb better terms for the length that separated them in November.

Mr Pointment completes his Grand National preparation at Doncaster on March 1. “I didn't think he'd get so much weight,” Nicholls said. “I'm also encouraged that the handicap looks like being a little more compressed than usual.” With 105 horses allocated 10st or more, those with 10st 5lb or less may struggle to make the 40-runner cut.

Snowy Morning, who is assured of a berth with 10st 12lb, matches the profile of many recent winners of the Grand National. He has been campaigned over hurdles in Ireland since falling in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup, won by Denman, nine weeks ago. The eight-year-old, runner-up to Denman in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase, attempts to become the seventh Irish-trained winner in the last decade.

Snowy Morning now returns to fences at Leopardstown on Sunday, when he is joined by a pair of Aintree-bound stablemates in Rule Supreme and the 2005 Grand National winner, Hedgehunter. “Snowy Morning has lovely potential,” Mullins said, “but I think he has enough weight. For a second-season novice I thought he might have been treated better.”

Against that, the Aintree prize has plainly been in Snowy Morning's sights ever since he tipped up at Newbury. Punters were quick to seize on a horse with such obvious Aintree promise and, in consequence, Ladbrokes promoted Snowy Morning to 10-1 favourite ahead of Mr Pointment at 12-1. Bewleys Berry, Simon and Butler's Cabin are 14-1 chances.

Butler's Cabin remains prominent in the betting despite running poorly at Sandown on Saturday. “He was very disappointing,” Jonjo O'Neill, his trainer, said. “He seems OK but he did pass out after winning at Cheltenham [the National Hunt Chase] and Fairyhouse [the Irish Grand National] last season. Whether that's kicked in and he doesn't want to exert himself any more, I don't know."

One man in great heart at the sponsor's lunch yesterday was Nigel Twiston-Davies, a dual winner who has eight horses entered. Twiston-Davies, who nominated Fundamentalist, Ollie Magern and Knowhere as his principal hopes, required little prompting to put his money where his mouth was. “If any of my horses win, I will own Ladbrokes,” he said.

Philip Hobbs indicated that he is unlikely to run Dream Alliance, his Hennessy runner-up. “He is only seven,” the Somerset trainer said, “so we may wait another year.” Hobbs nominated the consistent Parsons Legacy as his main contender.

Beef Or Salmon, handed top weight of 11st 12lb, is an intended runner, provided he earns his ticket at Leopardstown on Sunday. But the 12-year-old's stablemate, Hi Cloy, is definitely Aintree-bound. Their trainer, Michael Hourigan, said: “Ginger McCain bought Amberleigh House [the 2004 National winner] from me, and he has tried to buy Hi Cloy twice. I take it as a good sign.”