RACING: Last year's Grand National winner Monty's Pass has begun his preparation for this year's Aintree marathon.

Jimmy Mangan's gelding has not been seen in racecourse action since finishing seventh of nine finishers when bidding to repeat his victory of 2002 in the Kerry National at Listowel in September.

Monty's Pass was later found to be suffering from an abscess on his right cheek. He had two runs over hurdles last spring prior to his easy 12-length call over Supreme Glory in the Grand National, when he landed one of the biggest gambles in the history of the great race, and a similar route is planned this time.

"He's back in training and has been ridden up the road this morning," Mangan said yesterday. "He's doing great and I'm absolutely delighted with him. He has just been riding around. He hasn't been for a canter yet but everything is 100 per cent. It is the intention to take something like the same route as last year. I gave him two runs last March at Naas and Punchestown."

Monty's Pass has never won over hurdles and therefore is still qualified for novice events and Mangan believes the 11-year-old is capable of scoring over timber. Mangan said: "I haven't put him in a handicap hurdle yet - he's only been running in novices - but he's good enough to win one if he gets a reasonable handicap mark. You'd be hoping to run him over two and a half miles and further because they just go too quick for him over two miles. That's if I can find a race. It's hard to get novice races much more than two miles. There are not many opportunities."

Monty's Pass is a 16 to 1 co-favourite with Paddy Power for the Grand National on April 3rd along with Bindaree and Rince Ri.

Willie Burke could be the trainer to follow at Thurles this aftenroon with Coolnahilla (12.45) and Nolans Pride (1.45).