Niki Dee was due to return in the F Lloyd (Penley) Handicap Chase at Bangor on Saturday but was a late withdrawal from the extended two-and-a-half-mile contest.

‘‘It was just the ground,’’ explained Beaumont. ‘‘I waited until I saw what was happening it was just bad ground.

‘‘I was disappointed because I wanted to run him but it just wasn’t on.

‘‘He certainly can’t have a run now before Aintree.

‘‘I’ll have to think about it a bit because if it stayed very wet at Aintree I’d have to think twice about that so we’ll have to see.’’

Beaumont’s charge has been allotted 9st 9lb in the Grand National and the Brandsby trainer added: ‘‘I would hope to run him in the National and he’d appreciate that weight.’’

Beaumont has no immediate plans for his Cheltenham Festival winner Hussard Collonges.

The seven-year-old ran out the game two-length winner of a gruelling renewal of the Royal & SunAlliance Chase.

‘‘He’s fine but whether he runs again or not this season I haven’t made my mind up yet,’’ Beaumont said.

‘‘They are only novices and they were bigger fences than they’d met before. It’s a very tough race and it takes a lot out of them.

‘‘He’s happy and bright enough but he’ll need a bit of time. We’ll play it by ear.’’