Many Clouds has boosted his claims for back-to-back victories in the Grand National with an impressive display at Kelso.

Winning for the first time since his triumph the world's most famous steeplechase last April, Many Clouds put in a superb exhibition of jumping on Sunday.

The Oliver Sherwood-trained nine-year-old is now the clear favourite for the Aintree spectacular on April 9.

"He won't do a lot for ten days and then we'll just build him up," Sherwood said.

"It will have done him good mentally to go and win as well."

Bookmakers reacted by making Many Clouds clear favourite, between 8-1 and 10-1, to become the first horse since Red Rum in 1974 to win the National two years in a row.