Numbersixvalverde to kick-off over hurdles in National build-up
“He's had a long rest since winning the National,” Madden reported, “but it was great to get back on board and to see him in such great fettle.
“He hasn't jumped a fence since April and this morning we gave him a quick school and he seemed to be having the time of his life,” the jockey said.
Numbersixsvalverde's trainer Martin Brassil said that he would now be readying the lightly raced ten-year-old for a three mile hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas and that there would be two or three more races on the schedule before he went back to Aintree for another tilt at the Grand National.
“He's not a horse that has high mileage on the clock as it is,” the trainer said, “so we'll not be asking a lot of him in the run up to the National. He'll have two or three races after Christmas, depending on what suits, before going back to Aintree.
In the meantime, Brassil plans to give rising star Nickname a crack at Grade One company in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown on December 10 following his terrific comeback effort last Sunday.
The seven-year-old shrugged off a seven-and-half-month lay-off with a three-quarter-length victory over Central House in the Fortria Chase at Navan and now faces a rise in class.
“I was delighted with him on Sunday. I didn't expect to beat Central House and it was a nice comeback,” said Brassil.
“He will now go for the John Durkan at Punchestown on December 10, and I might also run him in the Paddy Power at Leopardstown over Christmas.”
Nickname, formerly a high-class hurdler in his native France, burst onto the scene at Leopardstown last Christmas when winning a beginners' chase and followed up in Grade Two company at the same venue.
He failed to score in three subsequent outings but Brassil has high hopes for the coming season.
He added: “He is a very high-class horse who loves jumping and has a big engine.
“I think he is up to winning a Grade One. His ideal distance is somewhere between two and two-and-a-half miles, so there are plenty of options there for him.”
Brassil also revealed that former Arnaud Chaille-Chaille inmate Ambobo, who was transferred to him from France in the spring, will be back on the track in the new year.
He added: “Ambobo has had a break but will be back with me this week.
“He won't be seen out until January time and I will start him off over fences, although he is not overly big,” he said.
