RACEHORSE owner Frank Bird and his trainer Nicky Richards are set to do a lot of talking between now and next Spring as they decide the racing plans for Coral Scottish Grand National winner Takingrisks.

The horse produced a dramatic late finish to win Saturday’s Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle when all looked lost before the last. The distance of the race was just under three miles which is a mile short of the Scottish National and the horse is definitely even better the further it goes. And in the aftermath of Saturday’s win his trainer revealed that he would like Takingrisks to take his chance at Aintree in next April’s Randox Health Grand National.

However, Frank Bird is allegedly opposed to taking on the Aintree fences and now he will try to persuade his trainer that presumably a bid for a second Scottish Grand National would be a more suitable target.

But knowing Nicky Richards I am sure he will use all his powers of persuasion to get his way and head to Liverpool

Whatever happens Takingrisks is a horse to follow over the next few months. He jumped extremely well at Newcastle and although he was run off his feet early doors he was travelling at a distance that as I said earlier is much too short for him.

When stamina kicked in over the closing stages he wore down the leaders and got up on the line.

Travelling over another mile or even further he will be mighty hard to beat and given that he won at Ayr in April on good ground and at Newcastle on Saturday on heavy ground he is certainly versatile conditions wise and he is one of the most exciting chasers in the north.

Nicky has stressed many times he is a late developer and it could be the best is yet to come from the horse.

Another interesting point is that jockey Sean Quinlan, who partnered him to Saturday’s victory, is unbeaten on the horse having won three from three on him including the Scottish Grand National. It was also a big win for Sean on Saturday as he only returned to race riding in October after a long period out through injury and this was his biggest win since returning. In my opinion Sean is one of the best jockeys riding in the north and will be hoping his injury woes are well behind him now and that he can kick on and bag some more winners. He is riding fairly regularly now for Keith Dalgleish in addition to Jennie Candlish, Sue Smith and Nicky Richards and all of those stables have plenty of horse power. Talking of Keith, congratulations are in order for him after he produced Prince Kayf to win the novice hurdle on Newcastle’s card on Saturday at 40-1.