Admirable veteran Regal Encore will take another step towards returning to Aintree by running in a race he has won previously at the weekend.
The 12-year-old, seventh behind Tiger Roll in last year's Grand National, is entered in Saturday's Keltbray Swinley Chase at Ascot.
In 2018 he came home in front in the 3m contest worth £42,713 to the winner and finished a creditable third behind Calipto 12 months ago.
"He's really well," said trainer Anthony Honeyball.
"He won the race a couple of years ago and he was third in it last season.
"He has a crazy constitution. You'd obviously want to own a Gold Cup class horse but the next best thing must be him because he has gone to all the biggest handicaps and won a few of them.
"Hopefully he goes back to Aintree. Last year three out he was right there at the business end and just got tired, then stayed on a little bit again.
"It's a bit of a lottery really but I think he will go very well again."
Regal Encore, who has won over £300,000 for connections in 40 races under Rules, is set to carry 10 stone if top weight Tiger Roll remains in the race.
He is 65th in the list and would need enough horses to drop out for him to have a chance of lining up once more.
Owner Michael O'Leary and trainer Gordon Elliott over whether their dual National hero should take his chance on April 4.
