Aintree is in the forefront of Donald McCain's mind as he ponders future plans for his two Cheltenham winners Peddler's Cross and Ballabriggs.
Peddler's Cross landed the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at the Festival in the style of a good horse while Ballabriggs battled to victory in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase.
"I'd have to say that Ballabriggs looked pretty tired after his race, but Peddlers Cross was as fresh as paint," the trainer said.
"There's no such thing as a horse having an easy race at Cheltenham, but Peddlers wasn't in any way distressed or bothered and we couldn't have wished him to come out of it any better. Both horses are fine."
McCain went on: "We don't have to do anything yet, or make any decisions.
"But we've always felt the two-and-a-half-mile novices' hurdle (John Smith's Mersey Novices' Hurdle) would be an ideal race for Peddlers Cross, while Ballabriggs will have entries in the Topham Chase and the three-mile handicap. We'll see a little nearer the time what we'll do."