The mud-loving Giles Cross, runner-up in the last two Coral Welsh Grand Nationals at Chepstow, is set to have next outing as he builds up to a crack at the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree in April, in the marathon Eider Chase at Newcastle at the end of February, writes Elliot Slater.

Victor Dartnall’s admirable stayer seems to be at the peak of his powers this term, having landed the Southern National Handicap Chase over three-and-a-half-miles at Fontwell on his seasonal bow in November before running another tremendously brave race at Chepstow. Anyone looking to place a Grand National bet certainly can’t rule him out.

Runner-up to Synchronised in the 2010 renewal, Giles Cross attempted to make all the running over the stamina-sapping three-and-three-quarter-miles at the South-Wales circuit where this year’s contest was staged on particularly heavy ground.

Having led from the start, Giles Cross was joined by the eventual winner Le Beau Bai more than a mile from home after which there ensued a tremendous battle between the pair, Dartnall’s 10-year-old only giving best at the very last fence, then keeping on grimly to hold on to a well deserved second place.

Although he has only won four of his fifteen career starts, Giles Cross has been placed a further seven times in good company and always appears to give his all, especially when encountering his preferred deep ground. Should the Grand National be run on unseasonably testing ground then there are strong reasons for believing that this sound jumper who is blessed with bags of stamina could make quite a name for himself.

First though, Dartnall will send his old warrior north to Newcastle for the annual slog that is the Eider Chase, where another good effort will surely see Giles Cross’ odds for the John Smith’s Grand National cut from their present mark of 33/1.