Attrition to be aimed at Aintree Mouse Morris is planning to give War Of Attrition a run over hurdles with a view to a crack at next year's John Smith's Grand National at Aintree. The 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner travelled strongly for a long way in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury last month but weakened from the halfway stage to finish 11th of the 18 runners. Morris admits his charge is not the force of old, but could not be happier with the 10-year-old's current condition. "The plan at the moment is to give him a run over hurdles to freshen him up a bit," said the County Tipperary handler. "He's in great fettle at the moment and I think the National would be his long-term target. He travelled well for a long way at Newbury but he is just getting a bit like myself now - age is catching up with him! "I would think he'll run over hurdles around Christmas time and after that we might look at something like the Thyestes Chase. This will be his last year and as he is in good fettle at the moment, why not keep him going. He'll tell us when he's had enough."
