Mouse Morris has revealed he is planning to give War Of Attrition a warm-up over hurdles before running him in next year’s John Smith's Grand National at Aintree.
The legendary 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner ran creditably in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury last month before eventually weakening to finish 11th of 18.
"The plan at the moment is to give him a run over hurdles to freshen him up a bit," explained Morris.
"He's in great fettle at the moment and I think the National would be his long-term target.
"He travelled well for a long way at Newbury but he is just getting a bit like myself now - age is catching up with him!
"I would think he'll run over hurdles around Christmas time and after that we might look at something like the Thyestes Chase.
"This will be his last year and as he is in good fettle at the moment, why not keep him going?
"He'll tell us when he's had enough."
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The Grand National 2010 - Ladbrokes
4m 4f, Aintree, Next April
16 Tricky Trickster, 20 Niche Market, 25 Backstage, 25 Big Fella Thanks, 25 Black Apalachi, 25 Comply Or Die, 25 Mon Mome, 25 State Of Play, 25 Vic Venturi, 33 Beroni, 33 Butlers Cabin, 33 Character Building, 33 Irish Raptor, 33 My Will, 33 Niche Market, 33 Treacle, 40 Can’t Buy Time, 40 King Johns Castle, 40 Russian Trigger, 40 War Of Attrition, 50 bar, others on request (1/4 odds 1,2,3,4)