AINTREE specialist Always Waining is ready to return to Merseyside next month hoping to further advertise his John Smith’s Grand National claims.

Peter Bowen’s 10-year-old again showed his liking for the big Aintree obstacles when landing back-to-back renewals of the Topham Chase, beating Saturday’s Paddy Power Gold Cup favourite Mon Parrain.

Bowen is eyeing another run over the National fences in either the Betfred Grand Sefton over 2m5f or the Betfred Becher Chase over 3m2f depending on the ground.

Always Waining missed out on running in the National in April, but Bowen is hoping he makes the cut next spring. He said: “We are hoping to run Always Waining at Aintree next month and it depends on the ground regarding which race we go for.

“If it’s on the soft side, then he will go for the Grand Sefton, but he will run in the Becher Chase if the ground is good.

“He had his first run of the season over hurdles last week and we will probably give him another hurdle start before heading to Aintree.

“His second win in the Topham Chase was very good and they think a lot of the runner-up. Always Waining always seems to perform well around Aintree - I don’t know why, but he seems like a different horse over those fences.

“We will be looking to run him in the John Smith’s Grand National next year. It was heartbreaking to miss the cut by one last season but you never know what might have happened in the race and it’s quite an achievement to win two Topham Chases. He loves jumping the fences and deserves a crack at the big one. He will be an 11-year-old by next spring and realistically it will be the last chance we get with him to go for the race.”