Grand National 2013: Willie Mullins seeks a change of luck at Aintree after his Irish National jinx strikes again He will be attempting to win the race for the second time, having saddled Hedgehunter in 2005. The Irish National's reputation for supplying long-shot winners was further enhanced by Monday's result. Liberty Counsel, winning her fifth race under Rules, was shunned by most after finishing a distant 13th in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Chase at last month's Cheltenham Festival. But Dalton, whose drive in the finish belied his lack of big-race experience, was inclined to believe the ground, termed "soft, soft to heavy in places," had been the single factor that had made the difference. "She disappointed at Cheltenham because the going was a lot "deader,"" he said. This ground was a big help to her, and she's improving the whole time. She was great, she battled away. She winged the second last, she kept getting me there, and she was long at the last. This was a career milestone for Dalton, who is attached to the Conor O'Dwyer stable. JP McManus's Carlingford Lough, sent off the 8-1 favourite, was never in serious contention, while his other runner, Competitive Edge, finished 10th after jumping wide on the first circuit at the rear of the field. Gigginstown Stud's Panther Claw gave Katie Walsh a great ride only days away from her big assignment, partnering Seabass in Saturday's Grand National. She gave Panther Claw every chance, sending him into the lead seven out, but he was weakening when he ploughed through the third last and dropped back eventually to finish fifth. Earlier on the card, Michael O'Leary, owner of Gigginstown, won his own novel point-to-point bumper with Akorakor. Under the conditions of the race, he offers the owner of the winner €200,000 (£169,000) for the horse in a "deal/no deal" arrangement. In this instance, he gave the money to the family of injured jockey JT McNamara, who was paralysed in a fall at Cheltenham. Tony McCoy will delay a decision on which horse he rides in the Grand National as late as possible. "It will probably be the middle of the week," he said. The 17-times champion must decide between Sunnyhill Boy, who was beaten a nose by Neptune Collonges in last year's race, and the Ted Walsh-trained Colbert Station, a talented but relatively inexperienced chaser. Speculation that he would side with Colbert Station prompted a flurry of interest on the Betfair exchange. Meanwhile, Sam Waley-Cohen is to school Oscar Time on Wednesday to see if the 2011 runner-up is ready for another crack at the Aintree fences.