Racing: Tony Martin is eyeing another crack at the John Smith's Grand National with Dun Doire.
The eight-year-old soft-ground performer was a strong fancy for the Aintree showpiece last season before the ground dried up.
He was pulled up four fences from home in the big race and Martin believes an earlier fall over the National fences in the Becher Chase was still causing the gelding some discomfort.
"He's going the best of the whole lot of them at the moment," said Martin.
"The plan is to maybe get a run into him about Christmas time. We are just struggling to get a jockey to commit to him at the moment but he's bursting at the seams.
"Last year was a bit of a mess because he fell in the Becher and was never himself afterwards.
"Just recently he is back to what he was the year before, whereas last year I don't think he was right after the fall - he was very sore.
"I couldn't be happier with him now though. We left him out in the field for a long time during the summer and we are hoping come Christmas we can get him out, if we can find a race.
"He needs soft ground as he wouldn't be quick enough on good ground for those top races but he is a better horse than what he showed in the National last year.
"Aintree will be the aim again this year, even on good ground. He is a lot better than he showed last year, his run at Cheltenham the year before showed that," Martin told At The Races.