Trevor Hemmings-owned Vintage Clouds is one of the leading contenders in the Unibet Grand National trial race and the only Yorkshire-based entry for this three-and-a-half test.
Vintage Clouds fell at the first in the 2019 Grand National, however the revitalised grey won by a wide margin in the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock Park last month under jockey Danny Cook.
Having ruled out a return to the Merseyside course following a pull-up in the Becher Chase two months ago, the 2020 Randox Health Grand National is once again on the agenda.
The eagerly-awaited weights for the National will be announced later today and most of the focus will be on the burden given to diminutive two-time winner Tiger Roll as he bids to win the race for the third time in succession, a feat never before achieved.
The weights announcement will have a stong bearing on the ratings afforded to the trio of Yorkshire runners at the Grand National, Phil Kirby’s Top Ville Ben, Brian Ellison’s Definitly Red and the aforementioned Vintage Clouds.
Vintage Clouds trainer Sue Smith can head to Haydock this weekend secure in the knowledge that another solid performance from the grey won’t affect his task at the Grand National.
She said: “Vintage Clouds has been fine since the Peter Marsh Chase.
“It was a lovely performance and we were delighted with the manner in which he jumped – it was great to see him put it all together.
“He is entered for the Unibet Grand National Trial and that is the plan at the moment.
“The Grand National is now back on the agenda. We just have to decide between now and then whether he also takes in the Ultima Handicap at the Cheltenham Festival.”
