Regal Encore will continue his preparations for the 2020 Grand National this weekend when he appears in a race which he has previously won, the twelve-year-old – who finished in seventh position in the 2019 renewal of the famous steeplechase – entered in the Keltbray Swinley Chase at Ascot on Saturday afternoon.
Two years ago, Regal Encore finished first in the 3m contest and he followed this up by finishing a creditable third to Calipto in the 2019 renewal.
Trainer Anthony Honeyball said: “He’s really well. He won the race a couple of years ago and he was third in it last season.
“He has a crazy constitution. You’d obviously want to own a Gold Cup class horse but the next best thing must be him because he has gone to all the biggest handicaps and won a few of them.
“Hopefully he goes back to Aintree. Last year three out he was right there at the business end and just got tired, then stayed on a little bit again.
“It’s a bit of a lottery really but I think he will go very well again.”
Regal Encore has won in excess of £300,000 in 40 races (under rules) for connections and will carry 10st in the Grand National should topweight Tiger Roll remain entered in the race. The Honeyball-trained runner is 65th on the list and as such would need numerous horses to pull out in order to make an appearance in the big race on April 4th.
