Aintree regular Latenightpass bound for Topham after Cheltenham second - but international spring target awaits

Aintree specialist Latenightpass is being prepared for a fifth appearance at next month's Randox Grand National meeting and a first tilt at the Topham Chase following his creditable second at the Cheltenham Festival. 

Trained by Tom Ellis in Warwickshire, Latenightpass had his first experience of the Grand National fences when finishing runner-up in the Foxhunters' Chase in 2021 before going one better the following year. He finished fourth in the same race in 2023 and led the field at the second-last in last year's National before his stamina ebbed away. 

Earlier this month the 12-year-old, owned and bred by the trainer's mother Pippa and ridden in all his races by Ellis's wife Gina Andrews, finished second to Stumptown in the Cross Country Chase at the festival and the Randox-backed Topham over one lap of the National course is next on his agenda on April 4.