Lord Windermere must concede weight to every one of his opponents in the Crabbie's Grand National on Saturday.
Jim Culloty's 2014 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero gave up his title with a whimper last month, but big-race jockey Robbie McNamara thinks he will relish the unique demands of Aintree.
McNamara said: "I'd be very disappointed if he didn't take to the fences. He's a very big horse and he jumps very well. He's a brave horse, as well. He's got top weight, but he's a big horse and he won't have much dead weight on his back with me riding him."
Nick Scholfield partners Lord Windermere's stablemate Spring Heeled, who won at the Cheltenham Festival last season, for the first time.
He said: "I've been over and sat on him. He's been trained for the race and ticks all the right boxes. He's under 11st, he likes good ground and has a lot of things going for him."
Willie Mullins invariably has a say on the big events, and won the National in 2005 with Aintree specialist Hedgehunter.
His representative this year is the Ruby Walsh-ridden Ballycasey, who must bounce back after he was pulled up in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.
Mullins said: "We probably thought of him as a stayer before we tried other things with him. To have Ruby on your side going into the National is always worth 7lb."
Walsh said: "Maybe the step up in trip will suit him. He's in good form, but he has to put his last two runs well behind him, and that looks unlikely.
"He definitely has the ability - it's in there somewhere - but just getting it out of him is proving to be a bit tricky."
Warren Greatrex has his fingers crossed a dream few weeks can continue as he saddles Dolatulo and Tranquil Sea.
The Upper Lambourn trainer could not stop smiling after hitting the jackpot in the World Hurdle at Cheltenham with Cole Harden and has a live chance of again being rendered virtually speechless.
He said: "They're both in good form. Dolatulo has improved this season. The win up at Wetherby was a good performance and I've kept him over hurdles since for the simple fact that he likes to be kept guessing. He will benefit from going there fresh and well. He's run over the fences and took to it well and he's off a nice weight.
"Tranquil Sea, I've kept back on purpose. He's an old boy now. I ran him at Newbury and thought he'd need it more, but he ran on really strongly. He's run over the fences as well and he's in great form.
"I haven't had a runner in the National, so to have two is fantastic. We all know how hard it is even to be competitive in the race, but we'll give it our best shot."
There appears to be a quiet confidence in the chance of Super Duty, with Will Kennedy electing to ride in preference to Royale Knight.
Trainer Ian Williams said: "I think he'll appreciate the trip and he should take to the place well - he seems to like big, green, shaggy fences.
"He's schooled great, he's got the right weight and he's well handicapped on his best form. We're really looking forward to running him."
Saint Are was third in the Becher Chase in December and his trainer Tom George said: "We had a trip away with him and went down to Lambourn. He did some work and had a schooling session over the Grand National fences.
"He has jumped over them before but it was good to have a day out with him. He looks like he has really come on for the spring weather, which he has done in the past. He really looks fantastic."
Rubi Light has Grade One form to his name over much shorter trips and has returned to winning form of late.
His rider Andrew Lynch said: "He seems to be finishing off his races a lot better, he hadn't been before because he was bursting (blood vessels).
"He got three miles in the Lexus a couple of years ago and he travels well - I know they used to say you needed a two- or two-and-a-half-mile horse back in the day.
"He has a good cruising speed. Hopefully I can hold on to him as long as I can and he'll last it out. It's all about rhythm round there and trying to stay out of trouble. Hopefully we can do both."
Soll has been nibbled at in the ante-post betting and is another who has come back to form at the right time.
Trainer David Pipe told his website: "Soll has been around the National fences before and having only joined Pond House this season he has done nothing wrong by winning both starts for the yard.
"The application of blinkers and a tongue strap have brought about improvement and I am really looking forward to seeing our gentle giant in the big race. He has schooled over the National-style fences at home and it is all systems go."
Court By Surprise has enjoyed a nice preparation and his trainer Emma Lavelle said: "He's had a lovely break. Everything he's done, he's done right. He went to Newbury for a racecourse gallop and he went to Lambourn for a school, so he's in really good order."
