RACING:ROBERTO GOLDBACK looks to have earned himself a tilt at the Aintree Grand National in April following his honourable second to Quel Esprit in Sunday's Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

Trainer Dessie Hughes had contrasting fortunes in the Hennessy as his other big hope, Magnanimity, faded out of the picture after a bad mistake at a critical stage.

“Roberto Goldback ran a very good race. He’s fine and he’ll probably run in the English National now, or he’ll go back to Punchestown for the Gold Cup there. He unseated his rider at the last, last year when he was going to win,” the Curragh trainer said.

Hughes is also grateful that Magnanimity is okay. “It’s a shame as he was travelling very sweet yesterday up to that point and we were happy with him. He made a really bad mistake and he was nearly on the ground. If the other fella could finish second I’d be convinced he’d have finished close to him if not in front of him,” Hughes added.