Brassil eyes up National return Trainer Martin Brassil has spoken of his delight at the performance of Double Seven in finishing third behind Pineau De Re in the Crabbie's Grand National at Aintree on Saturday. The prolific winner, only an eight-year-old, was sent off the 10-1 joint-favourite in the hands of Tony McCoy and put in a terrific round without quite being able to overcome Balthazar King on the run-in as the pair battled for second spot. Quietly spoken County Kildare handler Brassil has already claimed Grand National glory as in 2006 he sent out Numbesixvalverde to win the world's greatest steeplechase. He said: "He ran an absolute stormer. We're delighted with him. It's such a tough race, but it's been a lucky race for us so far. "Going to the fourth-last I was happy with where he was, but I sort of knew going to the back of the third-last he wasn't going to reach the winner. I hoped he might catch the second at that stage. He didn't quite manage it, but he ran his heart out. "The horse is only an eight-year-old, so hopefully he might be back, fingers crossed." Asked whether Double Seven could run again this season, the trainer said: "We'll let him get over the race and see where we go. "He's really a spring, summer sort of horse, but now he's the horse he's developed into, there won't be many races for him."
