MINELLA BOYS may head to Haydock next month as trainer Charlie Longsdon eyes all the big staying chases for his charge.

The nine-year-old ran well to finish second to West End Rocker in the totesport.com Classic Chase at Warwick on Saturday.

The totesport.com Grand National Trial at Haydock on February 19, the totesport.com Eider Chase at Newcastle a week later and the John Smith’s Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter on March 19 are all possibles for the Sussex National winner.

Longsdon said: “I was delighted with his run at Warwick. He ran two solid races at the start of the season off 119 when finishing in the first four and the improvement he has shown in his last two runs has been absolutely amazing. He has just upped his game big style.

“Stepping up in trip is a big help and soft ground as well, but I don’t think it was soft enough for him on Saturday. He would have loved it a bit further and heavier still.

“It will be interesting to see what the handicapper does to him on Tuesday. I can see him being at least a 130-plus horse, rather than 126 he ran off on Saturday.

“There’s a race at Ffos Las on February 5 over about three mile four or five. I’ll have a look at that, but I’m worried it might not be soft enough for him there.

“Looking further ahead, he’ll either go for the Eider on February 26 at Newcastle or to Haydock for the Grand National trial that used to be the Blue Square Vodka Gold Cup at Haydock over three and a half the weekend before.

“We’ll probably look at one of those two races and then either the four-miler at Cheltenham or the Midlands National.

“I’d say the ground might be too quick for him in four-miler, so it’s probably more likely to be the Midlands National at Uttoxeter. Four miles there should suit him down to the ground.

“Whether we do run him before then I don’t know, but he could run in early February and then again in mid March. He’s already been a star for us this season.”