National hope Birch in good form

Silver Birch has emerged from his first run for 394 days with all guns blazing and will head to Wincanton next month ahead of the John Smith’s Grand National on April 8.

Paul Nicholls’ nine-year-old finished an honourable fourth over hurdles at Warwick having not been seen since completing a hat-trick with success in the 2004 Welsh National.

Bookmakers reacted to his return by cutting him into 14-1 for the Aintree marathon with Nicholls eyeing the Country Gentlemen’s Association Chase on February 18 as Silver Birch’s next target.

“I was thrilled with his run and he has come out of it fine,” Nicholls told Teletext. “He ran a bit fresh, went along at a good clip, got a bit tired but stayed on again.

“That was his first serious gallop really but it was all part of his preparation for the National.

“He will probably go to Wincanton now on the 18th and then straight to Aintree.”