the 10-year-old gelding has run only once this season , finishing fifth at doncaster in february .
but limerick-born o'brien , 42 , believes that is preferable a preferable situation to 12 months ago when alvarado went into the race not having run since pulling up at cheltenham on new year 's day that fergal o'brien says that alvarado is in better shape going into this weekend 's grand national at aintree that