Madison du Berlais, a faller at the 19th fence in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree last year and a potential runner in the world’s greatest steeplechase back at the Liverpool circuit in April, is set to take his chance in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Saturday under new jockey Danny Cook, writes Elliot Slater.

Most pundits had expected one of the big names in the weighing room to be approached to take the ride after the gelding’s regular partner Tom Scudamore was ruled out of the race having sustained a damaged kidney in a fall at Sandown last week. Trainer David Pipe however turned to Cook, the young jockey who partnered his Great Endeavour to victory in the Byrne Group Plate at the Cheltenham Festival last March and who now gets a chance to ride in one of the most prestigious events of the whole racing calendar and take on Kauto Star as he bids for a record fifth successive victory on the Grade 1 contest.

Last year Scudamore was on board when Madison du Berlais came out best of the rest finishing a 36-length second to Nicholls superstar who was at his brilliant best that day. Fourth subsequently in both the Argento Chase and the Racing Post Trophy, the French-bred 10-year-old was quietly fancied at Aintree but was weakening when coming down before Becher’s on the second circuit. Anyone looking to place a Grand National bet on him this year shouldn’t be too disheartened by that performance.

His effort last time out in the Hennessy Gold Cup also proved a disappointment, Pipe’s charge coming to grief at just the fourth fence in the race won by Diamond Harry. A good show back at Kempton, where he has run very well on every outing in the past, would most likely see renewed interest in Madison du Berlais as a genuine contender for the Grand National later on in the season.

When Hedgehunter won the 2005 Grand National he became the first winner since Corbiere (1983) to carry more that 11 stone. Watching the weights the horses carry in the National is key to picking a winner. Only top quality chasers can run four and a half miles carrying more than 11st, with Red Rum being the only winner to carry 11st 3lbs.

Look for horses that carry around the between 10 and 11 stone, last years winner Mon Mome carried 11st, in 2008 Comply Or Die carried 10-9 and in 2007 Silver Birch won with 10-6. Statistically a Grand National winner normally carries between 10-4 and 11st a few pounds here and there doesn’t make too much difference but don’t look to far beyond those weight ranges.