Arthur set for Kelso to start repeat National bid

GRAND NATIONAL winner One For Arthur will return to action at Kelso on October 28 with trainer Lucinda Russell ( below) plotting a carbon-copy season in an attempt to win Britain’s biggest steeplechase for a second time.

One For Arthur won the 2016 running of the EDF-ER Handicap Chase at the Borders track and conditions of the £22,500 contest have been slightly altered to allow the gelding who rocketed up the handicap to take part again.

After Kelso, One For Arthur has been pencilled in for Aintree’s Becher Chase on December 9 in which he was fifth last year.

The final stepping stone to the £ 1million National for the Derek Foxridden gelding will be trying to repeat his win in the Classic Handicap Chase at Warwick in January. Peter Scudamore, assistant to Russell, said: ‘We could chase money and he could finish third or fourth in a Becher Chase but he is a Grand National horse and we want to treat him like that. ‘I was a little worried he might have too hard a race in the Becher Chase but Derek said he likes it so much at Aintree and he jumps so well that he probably finds it’s easier than a conventional track. ‘We also know he runs best when fresh, so the Warwick race as his final prep race is good timing.’