CARTMEL trainer Jimmy Moffatt sets out on the road to the Grand National with stable star Chief Dan George starting with an appearance at Haydock Park this Saturday.

The Chief is one of six runners in the Totescoop 6 Hurdle (formerly known as the Rendlesham Hurdle), a group 2 prize, and Moffatt's charge is rated a 10-1 shot.

Last week, The Chief - now an 11-year-old - was alloted a weight of 10st 12lb for the National and his trainer said:"That’s a good racing weight. I’d be happy with that, he's off his correct mark.

"Don’t Push It (last year's winner) will run so we’ll stay under 11st. We don't want to go through that barrier as not too many win above 11st.

“He’ll have a spin over hurdles at Haydock on Saturday, then he'll go to Cheltenham for the handicap chase he won last year then he’ll go to Aintree.'“ The Chief caused a 33-1 upset when winning one of the top handicap chases at last year's Cheltenham Festival, and has risen in the weights.

But the marathon trip of the National is seen likely to play to his stamina as he was a Group 1 winning hurdler over three miles before being switched to fences.

Favourtism for Saturday's Haydock Park race is between Alan King's Bensalem and Donald McCain junior's Any Given Day.