Elliott thrilled with National hope Backstage Gordon Elliott was "thrilled" with Backstage as he began his Grand National preparations by finishing third over hurdles at Musselburgh on Sunday. The eight-year-old, formerly trained by Evan Williams, travelled well for a long way in the hands of Jason Maguire in the race won by Nicky Henderson's classy mare Candy Creek. Elliott is set to give Backstage just one more run before the April showpiece, for which he trades at around the 25-1 mark. "We were thrilled with Backstage. It was his first run for a while and he was only 75% right," said Elliott. "We gave him a run at Musselburgh for better ground. We didn't really want to be travelling with him but Jason was thrilled. "He had a blow going to the second-last and the National is the plan. "He'll possibly have one run over fences in a month's time and that will probably be it, straight to the National after that. "He's a great horse to have, the lads in the yard own half of him with Middleham Park Racing and it will be a good day at Aintree. "He's jumped around there before, he travels, he's very easy going but it will be hard to get Jason to ride him with his commitment to Donald McCain so I think Paul Carberry will ride him if Noel Meade doesn't have anything."
