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Aintree the intended destination for Becher Chase fourth

A return to Aintree in April is on the cards for Call It Magic after his bold display to finish fourth in the Becher Chase on Saturday.

Trained by Ross O’Sullivan, the eight-year-old made most of the running, jumping exuberantly out in front, before his early exertions took their toll and he faded into fourth, beaten less than eight lengths by Walk In The Mill.

While O’Sullivan will give him a Grand National entry, he fears Call It Magic will be too low in the weights to get a run, so a drop in trip for the Topham Chase is more likely.

“We’re thinking of the Topham. We’ll enter for the National, but he’ll have to go up a few pounds to get in,” said O’Sullivan.

“The way he took to those fences, the long-term plan has to be to go back there. We got a great thrill out of it and we can’t wait to take him back.

“Mark (Enright) is still smiling – he couldn’t get over how well he jumped, he just got a bit lonely only in front. It was such a long run from the third last to the second last and if there’d been a few more fences, he’d have been much better off.

“Every time he saw a fence he pricked his ears and attacked it, but because of that long run he just got lonely. We were very happy and if he could find a few more pounds he’d go for the National, but it’s more likely the Topham.

“He’s a horse who likes a bit of space between runs, he likes to be fresh, so he’ll only have one run in February, two at the most, and then on to Aintree.”