Forpadydeplasterer will run at Leopardstown today in preparation for a crack at the John Smith's Grand National.

Tom Cooper 's veteran will line up in the Ballsbridge Hurdle before the former Arkle winner attempts to stretch his stamina to nearly four and a half miles at Aintree in April.

"He's in great form and he'll run on Sunday to sharpen him up. The plan is the Grand National," said Cooper.

"The ground was atrocious at Clonmel last time, unraceable, but it should be more to his liking on Sunday.

"A bit of nice ground (at Aintree) would help. There should be no problem with his jumping and they say you want a two-and-a-half-mile horse to get four and a half (miles). I've no idea if he will stay - it's a bit of a shot in the dark."

The 11-year-old features in an interesting field of 14 runners in the two-and-a-quarter-mile contest.

The high-class Blackstairmountain is likely to take plenty of beating for the formidable combination of Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh, while other contenders include admirable veteran Whatuthink Fosters Cross Won In The Dark and the returning Noble Prince