Sherwood hopes wind operation can help lift National hero

Many Clouds will return to action at Aintree next month in what will be his first outing since having a wind operation.

The 2015 Grand National winner joined Nicky Henderson's Hennessy Gold Cup-bound pair Triolo D'Alene and Vyta Du Roc in a gallop over the course at Newbury yesterday as he warmed up for his first action since finishing well down the field in his attempt to retain his Aintree crown in April.

"He had his throat cauterised and I was over the moon with him there," said trainer Oliver Sherwood after watching the work. "He hasn't schooled yet but he is going to school on Thursday. Everything is going according to plan but the proof of the pudding will be on the racecourse.

"He has been very enthusiastic in his work. He wants to get fit. It wasn't so much the work that was important, more just having an away day. It was very kind of Nicky to let me join in."

Many Clouds ran in the same 3m1f Listed Chase at Aintree last year, in which he finished second to subsequent Gold Cup third Don Poli.

"It is the right race for him," the trainer added. “He will have entries in Ireland, as an insurance policy for the weather, then possibly the Cotswold Chase and almost certainly Kelso again then onto Aintree."

Sherwood had hoped to take Puffin Billy, winner of four out of six starts over fences but off the track since April 2015, to Newbury to exercise.

"He wasn't sound yesterday, he had a poisoned foot," he said. "He is sound today. He could have a spin in the Long Distance Hurdle next week."