John Smith’s Grand National favourite Junior is likely to have his first run of the season at Newbury on Friday as he builds up to the greatest race of them all.

David Pipe’s charge has been allotted 11st 2lb as he attempts to add the April 14 spectacular to wins at Royal Ascot and the Cheltenham Festival.

Pipe has purposefully not run him this season to protect his handicap mark, but holds several entries later this week – with a run over three miles over hurdles at Newbury being favoured at present.

“We knew Junior was going to get around the 11st mark, it’s a nice weight and we just have to try and get him there in one piece now,” said Pipe.

“He won the Kim Muir very easily – probably too easily as he went up a lot (19lb) in the handicap.

“After that the long-term plan was to come for the National and he’s had a nice, long break.

“Everything has been geared towards the National, with probably a run over hurdles to start with and then fences. I think we’re probably leaning towards Newbury on Friday.

“He’s had a good preparation so far, everything has gone smoothly and we keep fingers crossed everything runs smoothly until April.”

Pipe also has Massini’s Maguire (10st 11lb), Swing Bill (10st 3lb) and The Package (10st 2lb).

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has never won the National, and this year his two possibles are Neptune Collonges (11st 6lb) and Niche Market (10st 4lb).

“Neptune is too consistent for his own good and he would seem to have plenty of weight to me, but he did run well in a Scottish National with a big weight so he is used to it,” said Nicholls. “Niche Market will get in and would appear to have a lovely weight.”

Calgary Bay appears to have benefited from Henrietta Knight’s resurgence, but he will have to shoulder 11st 6lb.

“I’d like to run him. The horse is very well and the weight is OK as he’s a big, big horse,” she said.

“He didn’t get any further than fence four last year but that’s not because he disregarded the fence, he just jumped it too well.

“I’d be happy to run him on that weight. My inclination would be to go straight to Aintree with a fresh horse.”

Malcolm Jefferson’s According To Pete (10st 12lb) has already won two valuable pots this season, in the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby and the Peter Marsh at Haydock.

“He’s got every right to be there and he’ll have one run before the National. He’ll only run in the National if he gets a weight I think he can carry. You would expect the top-weights to run,” said Jefferson. “This fellow is a lovely jumper and I would think he’ll take to Aintree very well.”

Willie Mullins has a huge team entered, including Sunday’s Irish Hennessy winner Quel Esprit (11st 7lb) and two Graham Wylie-owned horses – On His Own (10st 11lb) and Prince De Beauchene (10st 6lb).