The owners of Grand Natio-nal winner Auroras Encore are hoping for a double victory if he recovers in time for the Scottish National in less than a fortnight.

The surprise John Smith’s Grand National winner is entered for the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr on Saturday, April 20, but his trainer, Bingley-based Sue Smith, has said his appearance will depend on how he recovers this week.

However, Smith, who runs a yard at Craiglands Farm in High Eldwick with her husband Harvey, admitted yesterday that the 11-year-old had shown no major side-affects from his exertions over the daunting Aintree course on Saturday.

“He seems well this morning, he’s eating well, his legs are sound and he’s quite chirpy,” she said.

“At the end of the day he pulled up a relatively fresh horse considering he’d been nearly four and a half miles. He was feeling quite elated with himself.

“One of the owners has said he can’t see why we wouldn’t go to the Scottish National and Harvey would always agree with that, but they’ve got me to contend with in the middle!”

Auroras Encore has form for the Scottish National, having been only beaten by a head by Merigo in last year’s race. But having shown little in seven subsequent appearances, the gelding was a 66-1 outsider for Aintree.

On Saturday, over better ground which he favoured, the veteran enjoyed a dream run in the hands of the Scottish-born 23-year-old jockey Ryan Mania to seal a famous victory, galloping to victory by nine lengths.

Part-owner Douglas Pryce said he hopes Auroras Encore could repeat the success at Ayr later this month.

He told the T&A: “We would like him to go in for it but we will leave that bit with Sue. In my view I am also looking ahead to hopefully a second win at Aintree next year.”