Grand National hope Empire Steel can show his mettle at Kelso
Locally-trained Empire Steel, returning from wind surgery, starts his countdown to Grand National glory in the feature race at Kelso today.
Sandy Thomson’s Lambden raider, ridden by Ryan Mania, faces four rivals in the £22,500 Racing’s Best Ratings With Timeform Handicap Chase.
“We’ll find out what he will carry at Aintree in April when the weights come out on Tuesday,” said Thomson. “We also had him in the Grand National Trial at Haydock but this suited better and it’s right on our doorstep.
“All being well, after this, he could go to Cheltenham or come back to Kelso for another run to put him spot on for the National.”
After disappointing on his seasonal bow at this track in October, Empire Steel put in a better effort when taking second in the Rowland Meyrick, albeit it 14 lengths behind the winner Fontaine Collonges and as the only other finisher in deep conditions.
A mistake three out saw the 10-year-old struggle to pick up again, but his recent surgery could help with that.
Rivals to Empire Steel include Donald Mccain’s topweight Richmond Lake and Nicky Richards-trained Nells Son, winner of the 2022 Grade 2 Premier Hurdle at Kelso.
Ginger Mail, who returned to winning form at Kelso’s
opening fixture of the year last month, goes in search of a course and distance followup in the Church House Investment Management Handicap Hurdle.
The handicapper hasn’t been too severe in raising Nick Alexander’s charge 4lbs for his three-and-a-half-length strike under Danny Mcmenamin.
Lucinda Russell, who is represented by last year’s hero Corach Rambler in the Grand National, is a great supporter
of Kelso and she is doublehanded in the Johnston Smillie Novices’ Hurdle by Northern Cardinal and Primoz, whom she described as “the horse of a lifetime” after his Rules debut romp at Ayr in November.
Russell’s pair will have tough competition from Tedtwo. A winner for Kerry Lee in December, he was headed at the last on his first start for Ben Haslam at Wetherby after trying to make all and his attitude cannot be faulted.