Charlie Longsdon reports Frisco Depot on course for the John Smith's Grand National after recovering from a wind operation.
The Chipping Norton trainer plans to give the nine-year-old his first run back at Warwick later this month ahead of a tilt at the Aintree spectacular on April 6.
The Irish import has had no luck in two runs since partly being bought by Long Run's owner Robert Waley-Cohen out of Dessie Hughes's yard. He fell three out in the United House Gold Cup at Ascot in November and was then pulled up in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury in early December.
He had smart form in Ireland, including when second to Flemenstar at Naas last March, and Longsdon is hoping the real Frisco Depot can now start to shine through.
"Frisco Depot had a wind operation after his run in the Hennessy but he is back on the go now and everything has been very good with him," said Longsdon.
"We are looking at the John Smith's Grand National and he is going to run in a couple of weeks in a race that probably wouldn't suit him over two and a half miles at Warwick.
"As he has had a couple of months off after a wind operation, I want to get a run into him, but there are not too many races for him.
"He looked very progressive prior to his run in the Hennessy and he is a very nice horse. I think a mark of 140 is a true reflection of his ability, but fingers crossed he can be competitive."
The weights for the Grand National will be unveiled at a ceremony in London on Tuesday.
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