ENTRIES FOR 2013 JOHN SMITH'S GRAND NATIONAL CLOSE ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 29

JOHN SMITH'S GRAND NATIONAL TARGET FOR IRISH GRAND NATIONAL WINNER LION NA BEARNAI

The build-up to this year's John Smith's Grand National steps up a level when the entries close on Tuesday, January 29 for the £975,000 showpiece and are announced the next day.

The great chase takes place on the third and final day of the John Smith's Grand National Meeting at Aintree on Saturday, April 6, 2013 and will be run over the new distance of four miles, three and a half furlongs for the first time.

Lion Na Bearnai displayed a tremendous attitude when successful in last season's Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse in April and his trainer Thomas Gibney is planning a tilt at the John Smith's Grand National

Gibney, based in Co Meath, said: "Lion Na Bearnai seems in good form at the moment and he will go for the Bobbyjo Chase at the end of February.

"Then, all being well, he will go on to Aintree for the John Smith's Grand National - I think he is an ideal type for the race.

"I would put his disappointing run in the Hennessy at Newbury last time out down to a virus. I got a virus in the yard in October before he ran in the Hennessy and I thought the horses were OK but they weren't.

"I've been struggling to clear the yard of the virus ever since but we think we are getting on top of it now although I don't want to say for sure until we start having a few winners.

"At first we thought he might have just been outclassed and, although I don't think he would have been knocking on the door, I thought he should have finished a lot closer."

Lion Na Bearnai is a 33/1 chance with Betfred for the John Smith's Grand National and will try to emulate Bobbyjo (1999) and Numbersixvalverde (2006), who won the Irish Grand National en route to Aintree glory.

Ireland's champion jump trainer Willie Mullins won the John Smith's Grand National with Hedgehunter in 2005 and looks to have a good chance of repeating the feat with On His Own and Prince De Beauchene. The pair are rated 16/1 shots with Betfred and those odds are also offered about Betfred Becher Handicap Chase runner-up Join Together.

Join Together is trained by Paul Nicholls, who gained his first John Smith's Grand National victory last year with Neptune Collonges. The seven-time champion trainer is also looking forward to running the rejuvenated Tidal Bay (12/1 favourite with Betfred).

Welsh handler Tim Vaughan, one of the rising stars of the training ranks, is planning to run 2011 Scottish Grand National hero Beshabar (20/1), who has been off the track since coming home fifth in the 2011 Hennessy Gold Cup and also has last year's John Smith's Grand National fourth  Cappa Bleu (16/1).

Other likely contenders include Welsh National runner-up Teaforthree (20/1), as well as Sunnyhillboy (20/1) and Seabass (16/1) who finished second and third in the 2012 John Smith's Grand National.

The entries for the 2013 John Smith's Grand National are announced on Wednesday, January 30, with the weights revealed on Tuesday, February 12.