Goonyella set for Betfred Becher Chase at Aintree

Goonyella is on course to have another crack at the Betfred Becher Chase at Aintree on Saturday week following his encouraging return to action at Cork.

The eight-year-old will bid to make amends for his brief appearance in the race last season when he got no further than the first fence after unseating his rider.

However, Goonyella showed his true colours when winning the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter in March and when second in the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr the following month.

The eight-year-old made a pleasing comeback when third to Moylisha Tim in a Grade Three novice hurdle at the beginning of the month

"All being well, we hope to bring him over for the Becher," said trainer Jim Dreaper.

"Last year he just jumped too high and lost his jockey."

Goonyella is set to carry 10st 13lb in the race, for which the weights were published on Wednesday. RSA Chase winner Don Poli is due to carry top weight of 11st 12lb, with Paul Nicholls-trained pair Sam Winner and Rocky Creek close behind on 11st 9lb.

A likely challenger from Ireland is Vics Canvas (10st 11lb) from the Dermot McLoughlin stable.

The 12-year-old enjoyed the biggest victory of his career last season when taking the Cork Grand National and also ran two excellent races in defeat when third in the valuable Paddy Power Handicap Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas and when runner-up on his final start of 2014/15 in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown in April.

Although he will be 13 in just over a month's time, the son of Old Vic is relatively lightly-raced, having not begun his career until he was a seven-year-old.

Vics Canvas made his seasonal reappearance at Haydock recently, finishing eighth in the Grade Three Betfair "Tap Tap Boom" Fixed Brush Handicap Hurdle.

McLoughlin, who is based in County Meath, said: "We are aiming at the Betfred Becher Chase with Vics Canvas.

"We ran him at Haydock just to get him going for the season. It was first time out and a bit short for him. The ground also wasn't really right for him but he had to go somewhere before the Becher.

"If he were to go well in the Becher, I think we would be looking at bringing him back to Aintree for the Crabbie's Grand National in the spring.

"He is 12 now but is fit and well. What he needs is trip and a nice weight on his back. When he gets conditions in his favour in these sorts of races I he think he can be competitive, as his showed with his win at Cork last year and in his runs at Leopardstown and Sandown."

The 2014 Grand National hero Pineau De Re (10st 4lb) came home 12th in the 2015 renewal behind Many Clouds but hinted at a return to form last time out when second in a veterans' handicap chase at Sandown Park on November 8.