Paul Nicholls declared himself delighted with his two Grand National entrants, after the weights for the famous steeplechase were revealed this week.

Synchronised, trained by Jonjo O'Neill, has been allocated top weight, with Neptunes Collonges the Ditcheat trainer's heaviest entrant for the Aintree race at 11st 6lb.

And Nicholls believes the 11-year-old has the credentials to break his duck in the April 14 showpiece, with the champion trainer hoping he can demonstrate his form in the Grand National Trial at Haydock on Saturday.

"I only have two horses in the National this year but I am happy enough with the weights they have been allotted," Nicholls posted on his official betfair.com blog.

"I still think Neptune Collonges is probably too high in the handicap but I can't complain too much. He has always struck me as the ideal horse for this race and has run two good races at Ascot and Sandown on his last two starts.

"He runs at Haydock on Saturday, where he will hopefully advertise his National claims. I haven't thought about an Aintree jockey for him yet, but I will sit down with [owner] John Hales at the appropriate time."

Niche Market is Nicholls' other entrant in the Aintree race, with the champion trainer hoping he can live up to his impressive rating.

"I am thrilled with Niche Market's weight of 10st 5lb. It's a lovely racing weight and I am pleased to see that Timeform have him as their third top-rated horse in the race behind Weird Al and Prince de Beauchene," he added.

"Niche Market ran a good second in the Becher on ground far too soft last time and good ground in mid-April will be much more to his liking.

"'The Niche', as his owner Graham Regan calls him, is really well at the moment and you will see him next in a veterans race at Newbury on March 3.

"If Ruby doesn't ride him – and he has a decision to make with the horse getting such a nice weight – then Harry Skelton will probably step in."