Ferdy Murphy goes on a reconnaissance mission to Aintree with Paddy`s Return tomorrow.
The gelding is one of 11 horses declared for the #50,000 Tote Becher Chase over the National fences and Murphy is hoping the eight-year-old will show enough to justify a return to Liverpool in April.
Winner of the Triumph Hurdle in 1996, Paddy`s Return ended last season with a distant third behind Beau on unsuitably soft ground in the Whitbread Gold Cup.
'He`s very, very well,' his trainer said today.
'I would have preferred to get a run into him over park fences just to get the freshness off him - he`s been ready to run for about a month but the ground has been against him.
'He`s always a bit fresh first time and I`m sure he`ll give Adrian (Maguire) a fairly lively spin over the first three or four.
'We could have done with the ground being a bit better - he would be a better horse in the spring when the ground is riding a bit livelier.
'But he`s ready to do himself justice - I wouldn`t want him getting tired around there.'
If Paddy`s Return runs well his campaign will be geared towards a run in the Martell Grand National next April.
'The National is the plan, we want to hear what Adrian has to say when he comes back and I want him to have a feel of these fences,' Murphy added.
'He`s the sort of horse who has got a good engine and is the type who would suit the National.
'He`s got plenty of class and it`s just a matter of whether he takes to it. I think he will and Adrian is looking forward to riding him.'
Young Kenny, third behind See More Business at Wetherby on his seasonal debut, heads the weights for tomorrow`s 27-furlong contest.
The field also includes last year`s winner Feels Like Gold and Badger Brewery Handicap Chase winner Flaked Oats.
Tote Becher Chase runners: Young Kenny, Flaked Oats, Storm Damage, Feels Like Gold, Paddy`s Return, Step On Eyre, Master Wood, Ardent Scout, Yankie Lord, Native Status, Jemaro (11).
