Charlie Longsdon is counting on veteran Pete The Feat to deliver him a first winner at Catterick on Thursday in the Watt Fences North Yorkshire Grand National.
The 12-year-old will bid to defy his advancing years in the extended three-mile-five-furlong marathon by going one better than on his most recent effort at Fontwell last month.
Although Pete The Feat is without a win since December 2013 the Chipping Norton handler believes he can, with the aid of jockey Tom Humphries' 10lb claim, make his presence felt.
Longsdon said: "Pete The Feat is in great form. He ran really well at Fontwell when he was beaten by Alternatif who has since run a blinder at Cheltenham and the horse that was beaten a long way in third (Ziga Boy) has won since.
"Although I've had a few runners at the track before, I've not had a winner there.
"We had a great time with him coming through the ranks, but that step up in grade took him out of his comfort zone. He fell a few times, which is unlike him, but he is in the right grade now racing in these 0-135 and 0-140 races.
"Tom gave him a fantastic ride at Fontwell last time and with his 10lb claim it should help bring him into it. It never gets too testing up there so the ground should be fine and we are looking forward to running him."
Donald McCain feels Valleyofmilan should have no problems in seeing out the trip, despite having never raced beyond three and a quarter miles.
Although more frequently campaigned over fences these days, the nine-year-old made a successful switch back to hurdles on his most recent start when bolting up at the track last month.
He said: "Valleyofmilan is grand, but this is a step up in grade.
"He seems to like Catterick and we wanted to take our chance in a better race before giving him a break so we thought it was worth a try.
"He did it well over hurdles last time out off a lower mark, but he has been nice and consistent all season.
"It is a new trip for him but he seems to be getting a trip a lot better now than when he was younger."
The Harriet Graham-trained Scotswell will attempt to record back-to-back victories in the race, while West Of The Edge, from the yard of Dai Williams, seeks a second National victory having taken the Lincolnshire equivalent at Market Rasen last time out.
Gorgehous Lliege, the representative of Venetia Williams, will bid to score for the first time since winning last year's Southern National after failing to complete his last three starts, while the Neil King-trained Delgany Demon is out to register a first win of the campaign having finished in the frame on three of his four runs this season.
The field is completed by Silver Tassie (Micky Hammond), Beeves (Jennie Candlish), Lackamon (Sue Smith), Alto Des Mottes (Harry Hogarth), Pinerolo (Joanne Foster), Jac The Legend (Brian Ellison), Nail 'm (Nigel Hawke) and Barton Gift (John Spearing).