Joe Tizzard will be hoping The Big Breakaway can gain him a breakthrough success in the 62nd Badger Beer Handicap Chase at Wincanton on Saturday, as he features among the sixteen entries that have been received for the £70,000 prize.
The eight-year-old hasn't been seen since falling at the second in the Randox Grand National at Aintree last season, with Joe Tizzard hoping Wincanton's premier handicap can prove the perfect starting point, as he works back from a second tilt at the Merseyside venue's famous staying chase next year.
The Milborne Port handler said: "I think this is a nice race to start him off in and we've had it in mind for him for a while. It gives us a month then until the Becher Chase.
"We have never run him around Wincanton, but I don't see why the track won't suit him. He worked really well on Saturday morning, and he schooled well last week.
"I think with the ground how it is it will suit him at Wincanton. We have had a lot of rain around us and whatever happens this week it will be on the soft side and that will play to the strengths of The The Big Breakaway.
"I didn't have a great record in the race as a rider, but Dad [Colin Tizzard] was lucky enough to win it with Gentleman Jon [2016]. It is a big race, and it is local to us and one we try and aim a horse at every year."
Although The Big Breakaway failed to get his head in front last season, he ran some bold races in defeat including when finishing second in the Coral Welsh Grand National at Chepstow.
Tizzard added: "He had a brilliant start to the season, and he was unlucky in his first two runs at Haydock and Chepstow.
"His run in the Welsh National was nearly as good as it gets off a big weight. He was just unlucky as he bumped into one at the bottom of the weights.
"You can put a line through his run at Cheltenham, but he then got knocked over at the second fence in the Grand National.
"All roads lead back to the Grand National this season, but we want to give him a spin over those fences in the Becher Chase first after this weekend."
The son of Getaway hasn't scored over fences since making a winning debut over them at Cheltenham almost three years ago, but Tizzard is confident he will be winning over the larger obstacles sooner rather than later.
Tizzard added: "I don't think it is through any fault of his own that he has only won once over fences.
"He has been second in a Grade 1 at Kempton Park, and he was second in some good races last season. There is a massive pot in him. He is just waiting his turn.
"One of these days it will click as the types of races he runs in are huge races. It might be that he does it in the Grand National and we won't say no to that."
The Joe Tizzard-trained runner looks set to face popular chaser Frodon, who landed the contest twelve months ago, while the likes of Nicky Henderson's Dusart and Paul Nicholls' Threeunderthrufive also feature among the sixteen entries.
