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Time likely to skip Festival test

Last Time D'AlbainLast Time D'Albain
© Photo Healy Racing

Last Time D'Albain is set to skip the St. James s Place Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup at Cheltenham next week and instead wait for the equivalent event at Aintree.

The Liam Cusack-trained 11-year-old has safely negotiated the famous Grand National fences before, having finished third in the 2013 Topham Chase on Merseyside, although he parted company with Robbie Colgan at Becher's in last year's Grand National.

Last Time D'Albain has been in good form since the turn of the year, winning a Kilfeacle point-to-point and a hunter chase at Fairyhouse last month, and Cusack is looking forward to a trip to Liverpool once again in April.

He said: " It's highly unlikely he'll go to Cheltenham. I think I'll stick to my original plan and wait for Aintree.

"I just think two miles and six (furlongs) probably suits him better than three and a quarter miles at Cheltenham and he's jumped round Aintree before.

"He has been in good form this season and if I can get him to Aintree in the same form as he was the last day I think he'd run very well, that's without seeing the opposition, obviously."