King John Fine King Johns Castle is on course for a second crack at the John Smith's Grand National following a belated return to action at Naas on Saturday. The 10-year-old grey, trained by Arthur Moore, was seventh in a 19-furlong handicap hurdle which he had won 12 months ago on the way to finishing second to Comply Or Die at Aintree. It had been thought a tendon injury would rule him out for the entire season but he recovered sooner than expected. "He's come out of the race fine. All being well he'll go straight to Aintree now, that's the plan," said Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus. Berry also reported another of McManus's Grand National contenders, the well-fancied Butlers Cabin, to be fine after finishing fifth behind Character Building in the Kim Muir Challenge Cup at Cheltenham last week. "We were very pleased the way he ran at Cheltenham and he goes straight for the National," he went on. Butlers Cabin is 12-1 second favourite for Aintree glory on April 4 while King Johns Castle is 25-1. Berry has not ruled out the possibility of the Jonjo O'Neill-trained Wichita Lineman running again this season after being given a vintage Tony McCoy ride to take the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase at the Festival. "He come out of the race well. I don't know the plans for him at the minute but we'll decide some time next week. You could easily see him again," remarked Berry. "We'll give him a week and see how he is then we'll make a decision on whether he runs again this season." However, it is likely Binocular, trained by Nicky Henderson, will be put away for the season after finishing a close third to stablemate Punjabi in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle. "There are no plans really, but it's more than likely that will be it for the season for him," added Berry.
