Anthony Honeyball is hoping the handicapper is not too hard on Regal Encore after the nine-year-old belied his odds of 66/1 to finish third in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury on Saturday.
The Dorset trainer would like to see the assessor leave his rating unchanged and not react too harshly following his fine effort that saw him take third place behind Total Recall and Whisper in the prestigious staying handicap chase.
The Randox Health Grand National, in which he was eighth last season, is the ultimate target again though the Coral Welsh Grand National, a handicap chase at Ascot he won last December and possibly the Midlands National could be on the agenda if the ground was suitable.
"It was a good solid performance on Saturday. He stayed on well and did nothing wrong. He ran a lovely race," said Honeyball.
"He just couldn't quicken away with the winner and Whisper, but what he did was get his second wind after the last like he did in the National. He stayed on and drew further away from the fourth horse going to the line. That was nice to see.
"I hope we get some respite from the handicapper or get left alone, but he might get nudged up a couple of pounds.
"He needs to be given a chance at this stage of his life to win one of these races.
"He's come out of it really well.
"If any of the races like the Welsh National and the race he won at Ascot last season are in the right slot, the forecast is all right and the ground is not too soft, I'd say he'd take his chance. We can then give him a break ahead of the Grand National.
"Another race we'd love to run him in is the Midlands National. The ground is always too soft for him, but you never know, we might get some spring-like conditions. If it was tacky and good to soft that would be all right."
