TRAINER Harry Fry has American (10st 10lb) and The Last Samuri (10st 6lb) listed following the eagerly-awaited release of the Randox Health Grand National weights.

The Seaborough handler said: “The Last Samuri is in good form.

“We were looking at the Eider at Newcastle, but now the handicapper has dropped him to a mark of 150 we’ll probably go for a veterans’ chase at Newbury on March 2.

“Hopefully that will tee him up for another crack at the National, if that’s what the owners want to do.

“He would be our first runner in the National, which would be hugely exciting.

“Plans are a little bit more up in the air as far as American is concerned. Obviously he needs heavy ground to be at his best.

“He’s entered at Kelso this weekend, but the ground won’t be soft enough for him there so we’ll look elsewhere.

“He has a Cheltenham Gold Cup entry, but he’ll be on a recovery mission wherever he goes after his last run at Newbury and there are no definite plans for him at this stage.”

In last season’s National, there was disappointment for The Last Samuri – a 16/1 shot with many bookmakers for the Aintree showpiece.

Despite jumping many of the 30 fences, Kim Bailey’s mount was eventually pulled up by jockey David Bass at the 26th obstacle.

That performance came after finishing second in 2016 and 16th in 2017 before switching to Fry’s yard after the 2018 event.