Racing: Martin Brassil expects to have 2006 John Smith's Grand National hero Numbersixvalverde back in action soon as he starts out on the long road to another crack at the big Aintree prize.
The 11-year-old has been sparsely campaigned since carrying Niall Madden to glory, having just four subsequent runs, the last of them being a creditable sixth-placed finish in this year's renewal of the world's greatest steeplechase.
Brassil said: "It is early to be making plans as the rain only arrived at the weekend, but he is three-parts ready to run.
"I think we will start him off at Christmas time and he will probably have two runs before Aintree.
"He has won the National once and most people don't expect to even win it that many times so it will just be great to get him back there and be part of the occasion again."