Grade 1 winner Millers Bank 'as good as ever' before Aintree return in Old Roan

Last season's Manifesto Novices' Chase winner Millers Bank is reported to be working as well as ever before a return to Aintree in Sunday's Jewson St Helens Old Roan Chase (2.40).

Alex Hales's stable star will look to enhance his fine course record, having given his trainer and regular rider Kielan Woods their first victories at the highest level at the Grand National meeting in April.

Hales said: "He's in very good form after a good summer and his work has been as good as ever. It looks the ideal race given his record around Aintree.

"He was brilliant at Aintree, he travelled and jumped and you kind of knew two out, he had the race won. His run in the Aintree Hurdle the year before was also very good when finishing third behind Abacadabras."

Millers Bank, a general 5-1 shot for the Old Roan, is second highest in the weights behind 11-4 favourite Hitman, while 4-1 chance Do Your Job is the other contender shorter in the betting.

"It's a handicap, even though it's a Grade 2, and he'll have to give weight away to quite a few horses, but it's a good starting point," said Hales.

"All his form was creditable last season, even without Aintree, and he obviously likes the track."

Alex Hales (right) is all smiles after Millers Bank's Aintree victoryCredit: Edward Whitaker

Hales is already looking towards next year's National meeting with his homebred, who finished well beaten on his last start at the Punchestown festival.

"We gave Ireland a try after Aintree, but he lost a lot of weight travelling over and it was probably a jump too far. It was no disgrace and we learned plenty," the trainer said.

"I don't like to prophesise too far into the future, but the plan is to run on Sunday and then go to Huntingdon for the Peterborough and ultimately end up back at Aintree in April for the Melling."

The ground at Aintree was described as good, good to firm in places on Wednesday and watering could start on Thursday in preparation for Sunday's fixture.

Clerk of the course Sulekha Varma said on Wednesday: "We're in a good position as we haven't had to water since we last raced in June and nature has done a lot of the work for us. However, with it drying out we plan to start watering tomorrow depending on how much rain we get overnight.

"We'll keep an eye on the forecast and what the weather does as to how much more we need to do and we'd probably want to get to the slow side of good."

The name of Monet's Garden, the most successful horse in the history of the Old Roan with three wins between 2007 and 2010, has been dropped from the race title this year. The hugely popular grey is honoured in the Go North Series, with the middle-distance chase races run in his name.

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