DOUBLE HANDFUL

THIS week is the time to put to one side all the ‘Road to Cheltenham’ columns and focus on the road to Aintree, otherwise known as the M57. The Betfred Grand National Trial is the feature at Haydock this afternoon with ante-post Grand National favourite

BLAKLION very much the horse to beat. There’s no doubt Nigel Twiston-davies rates his nine-year-old extremely highly given his grandiose comparisons with Red Rum earlier in the week.

That’s Red Rum the three-time Grand National winner.

Twiston-davies was talking about Blaklion’s style and size rather than his achievements to date, a fourth place in last year’s National.

That said, Blaklion could yet still run in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and, if he were to win that and the Grand National in the same season (and be the first horse to do so since Golden Miller), then the comparisons to Red Rum wouldn’t look quite so extravagant.

Although no horse has ever won this trial and the Grand National in the same season, Twiston-davies did send Earth Summit to Haydock before he went on to win the 1998 Grand National.

As hard as I’ve looked to find an alternative to Blaklion, it’s difficult to look past him.

The only negative you can pin on Blaklion is his weight, with the handicapper hiking him another 8lb for winning the Becher Chase at Aintree in December.

It’s worth remembering, though, that it’s the same racing weight as when he came second in this event 12 months ago.

It’s difficult to see a horse with the credentials to give Blaklion a run for his money this afternoon. Three Faces West was last seen falling at Haydock when leading the field in the Tommy Whittle Chase, while Wild West Wind ran as recently as last month when falling in the Welsh Grand National.

Nine of the last 10 winners of this race came here after a break of at least 41 days. The only one I think could give Blaklion a race is The Dutchman, an easy winner of the Peter Marsh Chase last time out.