Sherwoods Folly ticks all the right boxes

The eight-year-old recorded his first success in almost two years at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day and was not disgraced in finishing third on his latest appearance at Haydock.

‘‘This has been the plan for him for some time as we thought it would be a race that would suit him well,’’ Daly told At The Races.

‘‘Four miles holds no fears for him whatsoever, nor particularly would heavy ground and I think the race conditions, 0-150, actually suit him pretty well.

‘‘I’m very happy with him and as long as they don’t get the snow up there, I’d very much like to run him.’’ Sean Curran is also keen to run his stable star Iris De Balme in the marathon contest.

The 2008 Scottish National winner was a fine fifth over hurdles at Wetherby earlier this month on his first start in almost two years and Curran is hoping he will make cut for the Grand National at Aintree in April.

‘‘Weather permitting, the plan is for him to go to Newcastle and we’ll see what happens,’’ said Curran.

‘‘I was very pleased with his run at Wetherby. He actually jumped into the race at two out but was then maybe just a bit ring rusty at the end.

‘‘He’s come on leaps and bounds since then so hopefully he’ll run well at the weekend.

‘‘His better performances have come on better ground but he’s run well enough on soft before.

‘‘All going well on Saturday, he’ll then head straight to Aintree if he gets in..’’

NOVICE HURDLE: Gordon Elliott’s leading John Smith’s Grand National contender Backstage could continue his Aintree preparations at Newcastle on Saturday.

The County Meath handler certainly knows what it takes to win the world’s most famous race having saddled Silver Birch to glory in 2007 and Backstage is as short as 16-1 to follow in his hoofprints.

Having registered an impressive chasing success at Ffos Las in August, the eight-year-old shaped with promise when third over hurdles at Musselburgh on his comeback earlier this month.

‘‘There is a chance he might travel over to Newcastle for a novice hurdle on Saturday, but it will all depend on the weather and the ground,’’ said Elliott.

‘‘He’s in good form and we were delighted with his run in Musselburgh the last day as it was his first run back and he wasn’t 100per cent.

‘‘I think if it had just been a normal northern novice hurdle he’d have nearly won but he bumped into a couple of good ones on the day.

‘‘We had to start him off somewhere and he will only continue to improve.’’

HAT-TRICK: Lough Derg appears set to chase an incredible third consecutive victory in the totesport.com National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell on Sunday.

William Frewen’s gelding raised the roof at the Sussex track 12 months ago under Tom Scudamore, fighting back to deprive Pierrot Lunaire in a thrilling finish and completed in similar style in 2008.