Definitly Red facing '˜school' test ahead of Grand National

Definitly Red, right, ridden by Richard Johnson, on its way to winning the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle Race at Haydock Park (Picture: Nigel French/PA Wire).

Winner of Wetherby’s Rowland Meyrick Chase on Boxing Day, the eight-year-old, owned by Tickhill’s Phil Martin, has been allotted 10st 7lb.

Ranked 35th in the handicap, Ellison’s charge is already guaranteed a run in the world’s greatest steeplechase on April 8, which is restricted to 40 runners.

Of the 109 entries, the top five all hail from Ireland – another first in a top-class field that is noteworthy for the quality of the declared horses.

Top of the list is Outlander (11st 10lb) who has not raced since winning Leopardstown’s Lexus Chase at Christmas under young Jack Kennedy.

He is one of 14 entries from Gordon Elliott who won the 2008 National with Silver Birch, his first runner in the race.

After the death of the ill-fated 2015 winner Many Clouds at Cheltenham last month following a thrilling win over Thistlecrack, the home challenge is headed by last year’s runner-up The Last Samuri.

Connections will be relieved that this course specialist, third in last December’s Becher Chase over Aintree’s iconic fences, has been allotted a realistic 11st 5lb.

As for Definitly Red, Malton-based Ellison says his stable star is an intended runner provided he handles the special schooling fences that will be built in the build-up to the National to assist horses with their preparations.

He says the gelding is in fine form after unseating his jockey at the third-last fence at Haydock’s Peter Marsh Chase on January 21 while trying to take evasive action to avoid a faller.

“Definitly Red looks to have a good racing weight, doesn’t he? I am happy with that,” said the trainer.

“The horse is fine after unseating at Haydock. I think he probably would have been second had he stayed up. It was just one of those things.

“He is in great form at the moment and is likely to go to Kelso [Listed Premier Chase] or Doncaster [Grimthorpe Chase] in a couple of weeks.

“After that, we will give him a school over some Grand National fences and, if he takes to it, he will probably head to Aintree.”

Ellison, whose only previous runner was Neptune Equester which finished 13th in the 2012 renewal, says the complexion of the National has changed out of all recognition and that this is reflected in the quality of entries.

“Even though he won a Listed chase, Neptune wouldn’t be in the class of Definitly Red,” added the trainer.

“It’s a great race. You’ve still got to keep out of trouble, but it’s a classier race now with the fences smaller.

“I’m pleased with that weight. As I say, he was running a great race at Haydock.

“It was tacky ground the last time and he hated it. Good ground, I think he will be even better.”

Victorious in 2013 with Auroras Encore, it is highly unlikely that Sue Smith’s pair of Straidnahanna and Cloudy Too will make the cut.

Staying steeplechasers who would have been worthy contenders in previous years, they are 79th and 81st in the handicap respectively and would both have to carry the minimum weight of 10st.

Though many horses have multiple entries, and plans will change after next month’s Cheltenham Festival, there simply will not be enough defections, though the Auroras Encore colours will be carried by Maggio, who is trained in Ireland by Patrick Griffin and is 32nd on the list with 10st 8lb.

Virtually guaranteed a run, however, is Highland Lodge whose Cumbrian-based trainer, Jimmy Moffatt, served his apprenticeship at High Eldwick with the aforementioned Smith and her indefatigable husband Harvey, the legendary showjumper.

After narrowly missing out last year, the veteran is 42nd in the handicap with 10st 6lb – recognition for the horse’s brilliant win in the 2015 Becher Chase under Middleham’s Henry Brooke and a bold second to Vieux Lion Rouge in last year’s thrilling renewal when The Last Samuri was a gallant third.

Even though Brooke was in the saddle when Definitly Red won at Wetherby, it is Highland Lodge which inspired his recovery from life-threatening injuries suffered in a fall at Hexham last October – and the Becher Chase was one of his first rides after being given the medical all-clear.

With the Tom Scudamore-ridden victor Vieux Lion Rouge 40th in the handicap with 10st 7lb, it would not be a surprise if these two horses took advantage of their relative light weights to fight out the finish of the 2017 National.