Air Force One hasn’t raced competitively since April 2009, when he ran at Punchestown but trainer Charlie Mann has decided to take a chance on him for the 2010 Grand National following a positive and pleasing workout for Noel Fehily at Kempton.

The injury prone German eight year old has had several ups and downs in his career but Charlie Mann told racingpost.com on Tuesday: “Air Force One has endured all sorts of problems, including with a hock, but he worked like a dream over a mile and a half at Kempton. There is no doubt he’s on the way back.”

Part of his rehabilitation to get him back on form included time at the Equine Service Centre at Inglesham in Wiltshire, where he was exercised regularly on a water treadmill, that coupled with his steady performance for Noel Fehily and Mann said “He is ready for a run, but having got this far I’m not going to risk him on very soft ground. He may start off in the Aon Chase at Newbury because he needs a small field to boost his confidence.

He was initially listed for the Grand National last year but ultimately didn’t make the final cut of forty starters. This year he has been registered for the Cheltenham Gold Cup where he has ante post odds of 66/1 with Paddy Power and Mann hopes that he will then go on and compete in the 2010 Grand National.