Jefferson sweating on Grand National for Elvis

Malcolm Jefferson is praying Elvis Returns makes the cut for the Coral Scottish National at Ayr next month.

The North Yorkshire trainer is keen to run the Eider Chase second in the four-mile feature, but is worried the 10-year-old might be too far down the handicap to get in a 30-maximum field.

In the meantime Elvis Returns is set to run at Newbury on Saturday. Should he win the Ladbrokes Handicap Chase then he would pick up a 5lb penalty which would improve his chances of making the April 19 feature.

“I would like him to get in the Scottish National – that’s my aim with him,” said Jefferson.

“It’s just whether he can get in or not. He’ll run on Saturday then we’ll see.

“He’s in great form but I could do with him going up a little bit. The Scottish National is a funny race because you can have anything at the top of the weights.

“They can be very high some years and then you can have 130-rated horses topping it sometimes. You just don’t know, it’s one of those races.

“There’s an extra week this year between Cheltenham, Aintree and the Scottish National. That means you’re more than likely get better horses running in it, so it will be touch and go whether he gets in.”