Number almost ready to roll

Martin Brassil expects to have 2006 John Smith’s Grand National hero Numbersixvalverde back in action soon as he starts out on the long road to another crack at the big Aintree prize.

The 11-year-old has been sparsely campaigned since carrying Niall Madden to glory, having just four subsequent runs, the last of them being a creditable sixth-placed finish in this year’s renewal of the world’s greatest steeplechase.