Horse Racing: Browns back Silver's Grand National bid

Silver By Nature has been given the go-ahead to run in the John Smith's Grand National following discussions between owners Geoff and Joyce Brown, trainer Lucinda Russell and her partner, former champion jump jockey Peter Scudamore.

Russell has always been keen on the grey taking his chance in the world's greatest steeplechase, as long as the ground is safe, and her judgment has been backed by St Johnstone chairman Brown and his wife.

Silver By Nature put himself in line for a trip to Liverpool on 9 April by defying top weight of 11st 12lb in the Grand National Trial at Haydock to win the staying handicap chase for the second year running.

No grey has won the world's greatest steeplechase since Nicolaus Silver in 1961 while there has only been one Scottish-based winner, Rubstic in 1979.

"As long as the ground is OK he will be running in the National," said the Milnathort-based handler.

"Ideally we want soft ground. I trust Aintree that they will produce good, safe ground and that is the most important thing to us.

"The National itself has changed so much in the past five to ten years. It's a staying chase for which they produce safer ground and the fences are a hell of a lot safer.

"He's been running away up the gallops which is a mild concern. He's not usually like that, but he's been a lot fresher since Haydock. I think it's nice for the horse that he's got his confidence back. He'd had a few hard races and he finds that Haydock track easy and he just enjoys himself.

"He'll train away for the next three weeks and have an easy week before the race and we'll just get him fresh for Aintree.

"He won't have a racecourse gallop. He can have a variation here as we've got two yards so we'll take him across to the other one and work him on the grass.

"We'll make an Aintree-type fence, but I'm quite happy with his jumping. I thought he jumped quite well round Haydock. He's an experienced horse now and Peter Buchanan (jockey] said his run at Newbury (in the Hennessy] just crowned him and made a man of him. Ever since then his jumping's been good."

Silver By Nature, who is set to carry 10st 12lb, can be backed at 16-1 for National glory.

Bold Sir Brian, a stablemate of Silver By Nature, has also earned a trip to Aintree on John Smith's Grand National day with his win at Kelso on Saturday.

The two-and-a-half-mile John Smith's Mersey Novices' Hurdle that opens the card on 9 April - won last year by Champion Hurdle hope Peddlers Cross - is the target for the Russell-trained gelding.The lightly-raced five-year-old overcame his inexperience with a convincing victory over Desert Cry in the Premier Hurdle at the Borders track.

"We've always known he's a good horse, but he lacks experience and he's green," said Russell.

"We wanted to give him a right season this year and by running well in these types of races he has to go to Aintree for the Mersey Hurdle on the Saturday."