Meadowbank, considered by trainer Mick Easterby to be a future Grand National prospect, is set to get more than a look at the unique Aintree fences this weekend.

The giant-sized gelding, owned by Lord Manton, heads to the famous Merseyside track to contest Sunday's Tote Becher Chase - run over the Grand National course.

The three miles and three furlongs handicap, televised live on BBC2, has also been pinpointed by Tim Easterby as a tempting target for both Scotton Green and Skillwise.

The latter, though, is on something of a revenge mission. Skillwise got a view of Meadowbank's rear-end at Wetherby last Saturday when the pair finished first and second respectively in the staying handicap.

Mick Easterby was over the moon with the winner and sees him as a horse with a big future.

"He could be a Grand National winner in the making," he said of Meadowbank, a point-to-point winner at Helmsley's Duncombe Park track earlier in his career.

"He's a great jumper of a fence and although he stays really well, he's not slow," added Easterby.

Good ground is essential to Meadowbank, and that is what he should get at Aintree this weekend as he tackles the formidable National course in an event racing fans will not want to miss.

If the Becher Chase produces the sort of finish seen at Haydock last Sunday in the Edward Hanmer Chase, then National Hunt enthusiasts are in for a treat.

In a crackerjack of a race, Easterby's Banker Count just failed to hold the late challenge of Kingsmark, last year's winner of the Haydock showpiece, after thrillingly getting the better of long-time leader Behrajan at the final fence.

"I'm disappointed we didn't win, but what a race and what ride Richard McGrath gave my horse," exclaimed Easterby, who is now pondering the possibility of heading south with Banker Count next month to bid for a jackpot prize.

The Tripleprint Gold Cup Chase at Cheltenham is under serious consideration by the Sheriff Hutton trainer, who knows temptation when he sees it. "It's worth £100,000 - and races like that don't come around very often," he stressed.

In the meantime, Easterby will happily settle for securing slightly less valuable spoils at Aintree on Sunday with the springheeled Meadowbank.

Updated: 09:49 Thursday, November 22, 2001