With barely a month to the John Smith's Grand National, leading contenders completed their public preparations this weekend, some more satisfactorily than others. Cloudy Lane excelled at Doncaster but is now trading at an absurdly pinched 6-1, a price that suggests bookmakers are frightened to do business on him.

Such parsimony only adds to the pressure on Donald McCain. The trainer admitted that he was sick with nerves on Friday night and he did not feel much better yesterday. “I haven't handled it well,” he said. “I just didn't want him to make a mess of the job.”

That never looked likely, Cloudy Lane striding to a smooth win in the Grimthorpe Chase. His market rival for the National, Mr Pointment, finished last after bursting a blood vessel and Joes Edge, a beaten co-favourite at Aintree last year, unseated his jockey at halfway.

McKelvey and Slim Pickings, second and third behind Silver Birch last season, were also in action. McKelvey, having his first run since breaking down in the National, ran creditably in a three-mile hurdle and Slim Pickings ran fifth in a 2m 5f handicap chase at Leopardstown yesterday.

Peter Bowen intends to saddle McKelvey once more, again over hurdles, in a fortnight. Tom Taaffe, however, will finetune Slim Pickings in private. “He needed that run and it was obviously too short a trip,” Taaffe said. “But I'm very happy and we'll now take him for an away-day in about two weeks.”

Ruby Walsh was expected to partner Mr Pointment at Aintree, where he won the Becher Chase in November, but he could yet switch allegiance. Walsh is also attached to the Irish yard of Willie Mullins, who yesterday confirmed both Snowy Morning and Hedgehunter, the former winner, on target for the National.

Attention is fiercest on McCain, though, as he seeks to extend the saga of family triumph at Aintree, established by the three National wins of Red Rum. “In his day, any horse was 4-1 or 5-1 just to get round,” he said yesterday. “I know the course is different now but I still think 6-1 is ridiculously short.”