Sunday outing for National hero Birch
The 12-year-old was going well in last season’s Aintree spectacular before falling at Becher’s Brook second time round and Elliott is keen to head back to Merseyside in April provided all is well.
“We had him entered in Cork on Sunday but we’ve decided to run him in a cross-country point-to-point in Lingstown instead,” said Elliott.
“He likes his jumping so we thought we’d go there and then look at the cross-country race at Cheltenham at the Paddy Power meeting next month.
“He’s in as good a form as he was this time last year and is working very well so I couldn’t be happier with him at the moment.
“I’d definitely hope to have another go at the National with him next year and he was still going well when coming down in the race last season.”
Another horse who is Aintree-bound is Backstage, last seen winning a Ffos Las handicap chase by 10 lengths in August.
“You’ll probably see him out again around the end of February and then he’ll be heading to Aintree as well,” Elliott continued.
“We’re looking to have two or three runners in the National this year all being well.”
