Henry Daly faces a dilemma as to whether to contest this Saturday's Scottish National at Ayr with progressive chaser Fortescue, or hold out in the hope of making the cut for next week's Grand National at Aintree.
Fortescue posted a career-best effort when landing the Listed Swinley Chase at Ascot last month - beating fellow Aintree contender Fiddlerontheroof - and is joint 47th in the weights list for jump racing's most famous contest and 40/1 to win the Grand National.
Fortescue poised for Aintree entry
The eight-year-old is owned by Tim Nixon, the grandfather of Fortescue's regular rider Hugh Nugent, and finished third to Royale Pagaille in the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock on his penultimate start.
Fortescue shares 47th spot in the weights with Eclair Surf, and with both horses raised 4lb since the weights were announced, their participation will be decided by a random ballot should it come down to one remaining slot.
Daly said: "I want to go to Aintree but I'm nervous. I'm very happy with him at this stage. He's well in, officially - he just needs to get in.
"He jumps very well, he gallops and stays. You'd like to think that's what works well at Aintree. We're going to sit in the Ayr race and see what happens."
Ayr outing could suit Fortescue
Fortescue (16/1), who has a record of six wins, three seconds and two thirds from 14 chase starts, has second top weight in the Scottish National and would be among the shorter-priced runners given his exploits this season.
If he does line up at Ayr, his main rivals could include the Christian Williams-trained Kitty's Light and Win My Wings along with last year's fourth The Ferry Master and Irish raider History Of Fashion.
