TIDAL Bay warmed up for his seasonal debut with a pleasing outdoor schooling session ahead of the tote-tentofollow Old Roan Chase at Aintree on Saturday.

Jockey Denis O’Regan was in the plate as the 2008 Arkle Trophy winner was put through his paces on Howard Johnson’s gallops.

‘‘He jumped well enough.

We hadn’t had any rain but I took a chance and it was all right,’’ said the Crook, County Durham trainer. ‘‘Hopefully he’ll be running at Aintree on Saturday.’’ ■ Mark Johnston is eyeing some of the world’s top middle- distance events for Jukebox Jury next season after he signed off his campaign with a sterling effort in the Canadian International at Woodbine.

The son of Montjeu may not have made his first appearance of the year until June, but he has certainly made up for lost time with a Group Two victory in France and Group One success in Germany.

He had to make do with the runner-up spot on his latest foray on foreign soil but Johnston believes there is still plenty to look forward to with the three-year-old.

‘‘It was a great performance and obviously it’s always disappointing to finish second, but he ran a great race,’’ said Johnston.

‘‘We will now probably put him away and we’re just looking through all the options for the middle of next year.

‘‘We’ll look at races all over the world for him, but I would say one target will probably be the Coronation Cup at Epsom. Before that, we could possibly look at the Sheema Classic in Dubai.

‘‘He seems to be a horse on the upgrade and hopefully there might be a bit more to come from him, but he’s a very good horse, there’s no doubt about it.’’ And Johnston is confident Shakespearean will give a good account of himself in Saturday’s Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster.

The Shamardal colt has shown progressive form this season, winning Sandown’s Solario Stakes in impressive style before earning connections a huge payout in the Goffs Million Mile at the Curragh.

Johnston has been delighted with the juvenile’s recent homework and is happy to let him step up to Group One company for the first time on Town Moor this weekend.

‘‘The horse is in good form and will hopefully take his chance on Saturday,’’ said Johnston.

‘‘We weren’t sure whether we were going to run him again after the Curragh, but I discussed it with the owner and we decided that if the horse was fit enough to do himself justice, we should have a go.

‘‘They are forecast some rain but that shouldn’t worry us.’’