Air Force One has the bet365 Gold Cup as his favoured objective after trainer Charlie Mann decided against taking up either of the chaser's National entries.
Mann put the chestnut in both the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National and the John Smith's Grand National, but is instead looking at the final big race of the jumps season at Sandown, or otherwise an event at Perth.
Air Force One has not had a straightforward season. After finishing a distant third in the Aon Chase, he unseated his rider early on at Doncaster and then fell in a conditions chase at Down Royal on March 17 (I backed it heavily that day...snarl, snarl)
"I think the ground will be too soft for him in Ireland and after what happened in the last two races, he won't be going to Aintree," said Mann.
"I would think he will probably go for the bet365, otherwise there is a race at Perth.
"It was a shame what happened at Down Royal last time, (tell me about it!) but these things happen. I think he would have won (get away!) and it rather messed up our plans, but he seems fine now."
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