HANLEY Swan trainer David Dennis is aiming to have Godsmejudge at his peak for the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr on April 16.

The 10-year-old, who has not won since lifting the prestigious prize in 2013 when trained by Alan King, showed he was on the way back to his best form when finishing second to Ziga Boy at Doncaster in December.

The winner has already franked the form by making a triumphant return to the South Yorkshire venue in the Sky Bet Chase.

Godsmejudge is likely to go back to Doncaster for his next run with Worcestershire-based Dennis looking at the BetBright Best For Festival Betting Veterans’ Handicap Chase on February 24.

“He’s fine. I’ve deliberately not run him on this testing ground. He doesn’t enjoy it,” said Dennis.

“He would be ready to run later this month. There’s a race at Doncaster I am aiming for. Hopefully, we’ll get slightly better ground up there.

“That’s his target this month but the long-term target is the Scottish National.

“He seems to enjoy the track and the trip, so that will be the aim later in the spring when his form in the past has always come good.

“It was good to get a nice run from him. He was beaten a long way but it was an encouraging run. He ran all the way to the line over an inadequate trip of three miles.”

Dennis added: “I’d like to aim him for the Grand National at Aintree but he’s highly unlikely off a mark of 129 to get in.”