Mountainous trainer Kerry Lee says the 11-year-old remains on course to go for a historic third Coral Welsh National next month.
Mountainous was included among the long list of 102 entries for the Chepstow showpiece on December 27, as he aims to win the race for the third time following previous victories in 2013 and 2015.
Lee says the plan is for her charge to take in a preparatory race at either Sandown or Chepstow at the start of the month before gearing up for the Welsh National which takes place just after Christmas.
“I rode him out myself this morning and he’s in fine form,” said Lee. “I’m slightly frustrated not to have been able to get a run into him yet, the ground has stopped that, but he’ll run on December 3 at either Chepstow or Sandown then head straight to Chepstow.
“I’m bidding to equal my father’s record of having won the race twice too, so I’m very much looking forward to it.”
Lee also holds entries at this stage for Bishops Road and Good To Know while last year’s second, third and fourth – Firebird Flyer, Shotgun Paddy and Saroque – are also included.
Emperor’s Choice, who won the race in 2014, former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Lord Windermere, and Grand National runner-up The Last Samuri are among the other contenders.
