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Saturday’s Grade 3 Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Newbury, promises to give us all a reasonable idea of just how leading Grand National candidate Big Fella Thanks (16/1 with Betfred to win at Aintree) is progressing.

With only five weeks until the big race, preparations are being stepped up by connections to get the gelding in prime condition for the Aintree marathon.

The Paul Nicholls-charge was in the process of running a good race when unseating none other than Ruby Walsh, after slipping on landing at the second last in a graduation chase at Kempton last month.

The eight-year-old will be partnered this time by Barry Geraghty (8/1 to ride Punjabi to victory in the Champion Hurdle) and could be opposed by two other Grand National entries, Can’t Buy Time (33/1) and Our Vic (50/1).

A win for Big Fella Thanks, who was sixth in last year’s National, could see him vying for favouritism for the four-and-a-half mile spectacular