Long Run has jumped back to winning form in the Ivan Straker Memorial Chase at Kelso to further his claims for the Grand National.

The champion had not won since the King George VI Chase in 2012 and was taken to Scotland in search of better ground.

The winner of the jumps racing's biggest prize in 2011, the Cheltenham Gold cup, Long Run had been out of form this season.

Well beaten at Wetherby and Haydock, he would have finished third at best in the King George but for unseating Sam Waley-Cohen at the final fence.

Trainer Nicky Henderson and owner Robert Waley-Cohen are now seriously considering a tilt at the Grand National with the nine-year-old, and were keen for a confidence-booster.

Long Run was left unchanged at 25-1 for the National by Paddy Power, with only Tidal Bay set to carry more weight.

"It was just nice to see him get his head in front and get back on track," Henderson told Racing UK.

"He's been a little bit off target but the conditions of this race did give him an amazing chance. It was obvious.

"He's spent his life racing around Cheltenhams, Ascots, Kemptons and Auteuils, but this is a great place to come to and it was a fantastic opportunity to get him back on track before we decide where we are going to go.

"The principal objective is the Grand National. His jumping has got much more professional and he was good there today.

"I think the Gold Cup is looking pretty competitive at the moment but we'll keep an eye on it, otherwise Aintree is where we'd really like to go."