A horse trainer from Chipping Norton has their sights set on the Grand National.

Charlie Longsdon of Hull Farm Stables is hoping to get 10-year-old mare Snow Leopardess back on track in the next few weeks ahead of a possible trip to Aintree.

He is hoping rain can ease the ground before committing the horse to one of three options.

In the mix at the moment is the Virgin Masters Handicap Chase at Sandown on Saturday, the Virgin Bet Mares' Chase at Exeter on February 13, and the William Hill Grand National Trial at Haydock on February 19.

Longsdon's preference is the Exeter contest over three miles.

“It needs to be slower ground (for Sandown). If she doesn’t do that, there’s a Listed mares’ chase at Exeter the weekend after,” he said.

“She could go there or if the ground doesn’t slow down a bit between now and then, she’d have to wait. She has an entry in the Grand National Trial at Haydock the week after that, but I’d like to go either this weekend or, slightly preferably, to Exeter the following weekend.

“She’s great form, absolutely fantastic form. She has an entry in the Grand National and then we’ll see what happens.”