Whilst Nicky Richards has made it clear that the 2024 Grand National will not be on the cards for improving stayer Famous Bridge, the gelding is expected to appear in big handicaps for the remainder of the year.

Winner of the Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase, the eight-year-old appears to relish the staying trips and was only beginning to get going in the closing stages of the Haydock marathon when beating Burrows Diamond by a length. Whilst the Grand National is often an obvious target for a Tommy Whittle winner, Nicky Richards has been keen to emphasise that Famous Bridge is unlikely to head to Merseyside.

"I think myself and Mick (Meagher, racing manager to Hemmings Racing) thought it was probably just a year too soon (for the National)," said Richards.

"It was just his seventh run over fences in the Tommy Whittle and he is a lovely horse going forward. If he gets another two or three nice runs this year, hopefully we will be able to work towards the National next year."

A return to Haydock Park for the Peter Marsh Chase on 20 January could be on the cards, whilst the Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase at Doncaster is also a viable option.

"There's the Peter Marsh back at Haydock but I don't know if that might come a week too soon for him," he added.

"I haven't done a great deal with him yet but he's had canters and everything and everything seems grand with him so we will see.

"Then there is the Great Yorkshire the week after and we probably need a bit of rain there.

"There are nice races about for him and he's a grand horse going forward. We will be racing him and he will be running in good races."