Richard Johnson is confident Wishfull Thinking is ready to run up to his best as he looks to defy top-weight in today’s Betfred Monet’s Garden Old Roan Chase at Aintree.

Natal could bypass Cheltenham in favour of a crack at the Topham Trophy over the Grand National fences after plundering the Connaught Gold Cup at Newbury.

Two years ago Grey Abbey finished a gallant fourth in the Scottish Grand National and another tilt at the Ayr marathon is on the cards after his resounding success in the Tote Scoop6 Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster yesterday.