Smith seeking a National Encore

Sue Smith – victorious with Auroras Encore in 2013 – is represented by Cloudy Too and Straidnahanna.

Brian Ellison has entered the progressive Definitly Red, as highlighted by The Yorkshire Post on Tuesday.

Victorious in Wetherby’s Rowland Meyrick Chase on Boxing Day, the corresponding race in 2013 was won by Cloudy Too.

Now 11, he could line up in Haydock’s Grand Natiional Trial later this month while Straidnahanna was an impessive winner of Catterick’s North Yorkshire National last month after a forceful Danny Cook ride.

With a maximum of 40 runners going to post on April 8, connections will have a clearer idea about the likelihood of their horse making the cut on February 14 when the weights are published.

This year’s race features no former winner following the retirement of 2016 hero Rule The World and last Saturday’s tragic death of 2015 victor Many Clouds minutes after defeating Thistlecrack in Cheltenham’s Cotswold Chase.

With Colin Tizzard’s Welsh National winner Native River another absentee – next month’s Gold Cup is the primary target – the field is headed by last year’s runner-up The Last Samuri and three-time Grade One winner Don Poli.

The latter is one of 14 entries from the yard of Irish trainer Gordon Elliott whose career has not looked back since saddling 2007 winner Silver Birch, a bargain buy from Doncaster Sales.

Another leading contender is Vieux Lion Rouge who won last December’s Becher Chase, narrowly beating Jimmy Moffatt’s Highland Lodge in a thrilling finish.

Unlucky to miss the cut last year, Highland Lodge is due to be ridden by Middleham’s Henry Brooke while North Yorkshire riders Brian Hughes and James Reveley are already being linked with the ride on Maggio who won at Aintree on National day last year for Irish trainer Patrick Griffin.

He is owned by Douglas Pryde and Jim Beaumont whose colours were carried to National glory by Auroras Encore.

Meanwhile, owner Heather Snook feels Thistlecrack lost nothing in defeat to the ill-fated Many Clouds at Cheltenham.

She says this was just the horse’s fifth run over steeplechase fences and Thistelcrack, the only novice to win Kempton’s King George VI Chase, remains on track for the Gold Cup.

Snook said: “It was a very sad day after what happened to Many Clouds and our sympathy is with his owner, his trainer and everyone involved with him.

“As far as Thistlecrack goes, there was initial disappointment, but we weren’t disappointed to be beaten by Many Clouds. There was no disgrace in that.

“I think of all the factors, the ground was probably the biggest one, but I don’t want to take anything away from Many Clouds, who performed brilliantly on the day and it’s just so sad what happened to him.”

She added: “Saturday was Thistlecrack’s fifth run of the season, so we have crammed quite a lot in.

“Whether the King George had left more of a mark on him than we thought, I’m not sure.

“We obviously don’t want to be beaten, but I’d like to think we’re good losers as well as good winners.

“There was so much hype around him and at least some of that has gone away now. We’re looking forward to the Gold Cup and hopefully we’ll get some spring ground, if we’re lucky. The main thing is to try to get him there in one piece.

“I’m sure if all goes well, he’ll run his race.”