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Leading Grand National fancies Junior, Ballabriggs and West End Rocker feature among 15 entries for the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster on Saturday.

Last year's Aintree hero Ballabriggs, trained by Donald McCain, is also entered for Kelso and Newbury on the same day.

David Pipe's Junior is unlikely to go to Doncaster if the ground is on the soft side. He could instead have his prep run for the Grand National in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

"We're having a look at Doncaster, but we don't want to give him a hard race under a big weight on softish ground," said Tim Palin, racing manager for owners Middleham Park.

"I think for his next race at the minute the favourite is the Gold Cup - that would be a nice pipe-opener.

"It's worked for horses like Rough Quest and Miinnehoma, who ran it before going on to win the National.

"This weekend would only be 15 days since his first run of the season. We agreed last weekend that we would run him on the best possible ground.

West End Rocker, from Alan King's stable, showed his aptitude for the National obstacles when winning the Becher Chase on his latest start in December. He also holds an engagement in the Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury.

Cheltenham, rather than Aintree, is the main objective for Fruity O'Rooney, who was third in the Sky Bet Chase at this course in January. That was a tremendous effort considering his saddle slipped and jockey Jamie Moore lost his irons in the closing stages.

Trainer Gary Moore has given the nine-year-old the option of this race if it looks like he may not make the cut for the JLT Specialty Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.

Moore told At The Races: "We didn't run him on Saturday in the Racing Plus Chase because he's probably better going left-handed than right, and also the ground had gone quick at Kempton - that wouldn't have suited him.

"He's entered for the Grimthorpe on Saturday just in case when the weights come out for Cheltenham he doesn't get in. His form is solid and he's a very consistent horse."

John Smith's Grand National winner Ballabriggs is one of 12 entries in Saturday's Premier Chase at Kelso.

The Trevor Hemmings-owned gelding, trained by Donald McCain, used the race as a stepping stone to Aintree glory last season although he met with defeat at the Borders track when second to Skippers Brig.

Ballabriggs also holds entries in the Grimthorpe Chase and the Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury.