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National option for Canvas

Vics Canvas and Conor MaxwellVics Canvas and Conor Maxwell
© Photo Healy Racing

Trainer Dermot McLoughlin has next year's Grand National at Aintree in mind for Vics Canvas following an excellent run in defeat in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown on Saturday.

Despite getting on in years at the age of 12, the Cork Grand National winner was having just his seventh start over fences in the traditional end-of-season highlight and performed magnificently in the hands of Ruby Walsh to fill the runner-up spot behind Just A Par.

Vics Canvas is now likely to enjoy a summer break, but McLoughlin believes there is a big race in his charge next season, potentially at Aintree next April.

"He's grand this morning. He's out in the paddock and came home safe and sound," said the trainer.

"We were delighted with the way he ran. It was a proper race and he put in a proper performance.

"Ruby says there's a good race in him, hopefully there's more than one.

"When you finish second, you always wonder whether something might have made the difference. He's still inexperienced over fences, which sounds a strange thing to say about a 12-year-old, but that's the way it is. I don't think we had any excuses.

"He'll go out in the field now for a couple of months and we'll bring him back later in the year and see what we can do.

"He's a horse who obviously stays well, so we might look towards the English National. I'd need to speak to the owners, but that could be the plan."