Encore dominates Mania thoughts

Auroras Encore had a comfortable night following an operation to repair a fracture in his leg, with his Aintree partner Ryan Mania conceding the now-retired Grand National hero has been the “only thing I’ve thought about”.

A shock 66-1 winner of the world’s greatest steeplechase in April, Sue Smith’s gelding returned from running at Doncaster last weekend with an injury that has finished his career.

He underwent an operation on Tuesday afternoon and while that was a success, Mania is hoping for more good news later in the week.