SCOTTISH racehorse owner Douglas Pryde could be double-handed as he attempts to retain the Grand National at Aintree next April.
The borders businessman and co-owner Jim Beaumont, successful with the Ryan Mania-ridden 66-1 chance Auroras Encore last spring, have recently bought The Knoxs and he will also be aimed at the 2014 marathon.
Pryde said: "The Knoxs used to be with Howard Johnson and Paul Nicholls and was owned by Graham and Andrea Wylie. I think he could well make up into an Aintree type -that's the dream at the moment, anyway. Harvey Smith tells me his jumping is much improved and ideally he'll have a couple of races over hurdles to start off."
Speaking at the Scottish Racing jumps media day at Musselburgh, he added: "As Sue Smith has said, Auroras Encore has done exceptionally well over the summer and if he isn't ready for the Charlie Hall Chase he could run at Aintree next month. I would expect he would only have two or three runs before the National.
"Winning the National was an amazing experience and almost impossible to describe. Who knows, we could end up with two running for us next time, and if you believe in coincidences, Ryan [Mania] has ridden him once and won on him."
Lucinda Russell and her partner Peter Scudamore also talked of their National dream, but in their case it was the Scottish equivalent at Ayr, which is only a week after the Aintree event. Scudamore, who won the Coral-sponsored race twice as a jockey, said: "It's our ambition to win the Scottish National and, given soft ground, you never know. Silver By Nature could still do it."
Russell added: "It is hard to win the Scottish Grand National. You can't go out and buy winning horses, they find you."
Russell continued "We have had the best ever season and anything else is a bonus. Having an owner like J P McManus in the yard is also great and we're aiming his Tap Night at Cheltenham's Paddy Power meeting. That was the suggestion of the handicapper, so we thought we'd better comply!"
Un Atout will probably miss this season, according to trainer Willie Mullins. The five-year-old ended last term with victory in the Tattersalls Ireland Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown, but Mullins is not satisfied with his charge.
"I'm not happy with him now and that's a fair blow, unfortunately, but at the moment that's the way it is," said the County Carlow handler.
Sky Lantern and Toronado are unlikely to run on Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday if the ground is soft, which would leave Olympic Glory as Richard Hannon's only runner in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.
Sky Lantern has an alternative engagement in the Qipco Champion Stakes, while Toronado could be rerouted to the Breeders' Cup.
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