AS the market intensifies ahead of Saturday’s Crabbie’s Grand National at Aintree, Michael Scudamore’s Monbeg Dude was the one most punters were interested in on Tuesday.

Given his royal connections, a fairytale outcome could await for racing and punters alike.

Part-owned by former England rugby union player Mike Tindall, who is married to the Queen’s granddaughter Zara Phillips, and Stockton-born James Simpson-Daniel, the nine-year-old is a former winner of the Welsh National and landed a competitive handicap at Cheltenham earlier in the season.

His price was cut across the board, with William Hill as low as 10-1 from 14-1 following what was described as a ‘‘wave of support’’ and the Leeds-based firm expect him to challenge for big-race favouritism on the day with Teaforthree.

Betfred cut Scudamore’s charge to 12-1 from 16-1 and Coral 14-1 from 16s.

‘‘I couldn’t tell you where the money is coming from,’’ said Scudamore. ‘‘He’s in the best shape we’ve ever had him, but this race more than any other is the one in which you need plenty of luck.

‘‘Paul (Carberry) sat on him during Cheltenham week and popped him over a Grand National fence then.

‘‘He knows him well, he’s not going to gain anything else by coming over this week to to ride him.’’ William Hill spokesman Jon Ivan-Duke said: ‘‘We were expecting a move to back Monbeg Dude with his famous connections appealing to the public, but the heavyweight punters have also come in for him.

‘‘We’ve seen an increase in the flow of money for the horse and also some significant wagers.

“It seems inevitable that he will challenge Teaforthree for favouritism.’’ Betfred spokesman Andrew Griffiths said: ‘‘It wasn’t a question of ’if’, but ’when’ the money would arrive for Monbeg Dude.

“Now there is momentum behind him, we would expect his price to shorten further as the week progresses.’’ Nicky Henderson is philosophical about the prospect of soft ground on Saturday.

The Seven Barrows trainer still intends to be four-handed in the world’s greatest steeplechase with Triolo D’Alene, Hunt Ball, Shakalakaboomboom and Long Run, although he does not expect the first three named to be suited by the conditions, with the Merseyside track good to soft after rain overnight and further showers forecast through the week. All four Henderson contenders completed their preparations with flying colours.

He said: ‘‘I think it’s bound to be on the soft side, they’ll make it that way.

‘‘For Triolo, Hunt Ball and Shaka all three of them want good ground, but they are probably not going to get it.

‘‘Long Run will cope with softer ground more than the others possibly. I accept they want to slow the ground down, but I hope not too much.

‘‘They all finished their work this morning. They all schooled again. All went well and their prep is more or less finished.’’ The champion trainer is still seeking his first Grand National triumph, having had two seconds including Zongalero, who was his first runner back in 1979.