Racing: Beaumont hoping for Aintree tilt with Niki

Peter Beaumont is facing a race against time to have another tilt at the Martell Grand National with Niki Dee.

Niki Dee ran a cracking race to finish third to Papillon in the 2000 renewal of the Aintree marathon and then went to Punchestown for the Heinekin Gold Cup in May that year but has not run since.

He was pulled up four out in the race, won by Commanche Court, and Beaumont recalled: ‘‘He pulled off a shoe going into a fence at half way, he was cruising at the time.

‘‘But that made him make a bad mistake and he had a bit of leg damage as a result so that was very disappointing, you never know what might have been.

‘‘We plan to bring him back at the end of the month and hopefully we will get him ready for the National and give him a one or two runs before, we shall have to see.’’