Mouse Morris believes War Of Attrition could be the horse to finally end his wait for a John Smith's Grand National winner if he makes the line-up for the Aintree spectacular next month.
The 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner has slowly been nursed back from a tendon injury which kept him off the track for almost two years, and has looked not far off his best in winning two of his four starts this season.
Following his creditable run in the Lexus Chase over Christmas, Morris was looking forward to heading back to the Festival with his prize asset. but he was forced to miss the showpiece meeting for the third successive year after a minor setback in the week of the race.
While disappointed, the County Tipperary handler was not despondent and believes compensation may well await at Aintree on 4 Apri.
Morris also has the option of running last year's Irish Grand National winner, Hear The Echo.
'War Of Attrition is sound again now thankfully and all being well he will take his chance at Aintree,' said Morris.
'We have left both him and Hear The Echo in at the latest forfeit stage, and at the moment War Of Attrition would be the first preference.
'Just with the way the weights are if 'The War' is OK, he would be the one. When you look at how Hear The Echo is weighted you would have to think War Of Attrition is well-in.'
