Last year's Grand National third Seabass confirmed himself a major contender for this season's renewal of the Aintree spectacular with a tremendous comeback run over hurdles at Fairyhouse.

The Ted Walsh-trained 10-year-old was a heavily supported joint favourite for the world's most famous steeplechase last April and gave the trainer's daughter Katie Walsh a fantastic ride to be beaten just five lengths.

Making his first appearance since in a two-mile (3200m) hurdle, Seabass was hardly going to be seen to best effect but ran on strongly to fill the runner-up spot behind the impressive Dermot Weld-trained Rock Critic.

Walsh was delighted with the performance and with Colbert Station also Aintree-bound, the trainer now has two major contenders as he aims to win the race for a second time following the triumph of Papillon in 2000.

"I'm happy with him. He'll run somewhere in three weeks' time. He has loads of options," Walsh said.

"The plan is to give him another run and then go straight to Aintree. He has fragile old legs and you wouldn't want to be abusing him."

Stan James clipped Seabass to 16-1 from 20-1 for the Grand National at Aintree on April 6.

Rock Critic was cut to 12-1 by the same firm for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham but Weld warned he was not a certain starter.

"He did what I thought he would do. He knows his job and he jumps well," Weld said.

"He's entered in Cheltenham but at the moment I see him as a Punchestown/Fairyhouse horse.

"We didn't plan to get there so soon but his jumping took him there - he jumped like a stag."