POPULAR Barbury Castle-trained chaser Walkon starts back on the road to Aintree in the Swegon Group UK Graduation Chase at Newbury on Wednesday.

Having suffered an injury in the Grand National in April, eventually pulling up, Alan King's nine-year-old will this season be trained for the Topham Chase, a race in which he finished second in 2013.

The Barbury Castle handler told his website, www.alankingracing.co.uk: "Walkon ran well for a long way at Aintree, but he took the tendon off his hock, so we have had to be patient.

"He doesn't get extreme distances, but he does love the challenge of the big Aintree fences, so, long term, it would be nice to have another crack at the Topham Trophy, in which he finished second a couple of seasons ago.

"But first we have to get Walkon running again, and it is good to have him back."

Walkon faces just three opponents upon his return to action over three miles, with the Paul Nicholls-trained Easter Day among his rivals.

The six-year-old has been off the track since beating subsequent Cheltenham Festival winner O'Faolains Boy at Ascot last December.