Back Blak for National trial

NIGEL TWISTONDAVIES is a good place to start when looking for the winner of a race with the word National in it.

The Scottish, the Midlands, the Welsh and the big one at Aintree – he has won them all.

BLAKLION (3.15), his runner in today’s Betfred Grand National Trial, is a proven stayer and ante-post favourite for Aintree, where he was fourth to One For Arthur last April.

Improved

He was beaten in today’s feature off a 9lb lower mark 12 months ago but has improved, turning his latest race, the Becher Chase at Aintree, into a procession some way from home.

He will need to be at his best to win on the heavy going but it is hard to name one to beat him. ® The Dutchman is the only one in the line-up to win at Haydock this winter.

His defeat of another Grand National hopeful Captain Redbeard last month was a career best by some way, but that has brought about a 13lb rise – quite hefty given he had not won for over a year.

He is a sound jumper, though, falling just the once, and looks a safe each-way option.

Tom O’Brien takes over from Richard Johnson on Philip Hobbs’ Three Faces West who, like Yala Enki and Wild West Wind, fell last time out.

The latter was travelling well in the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow before coming to grief at the 12th fence.

Tom George reports he is none the worse for that tumble and the 6-1 shot rates the main danger to the favourite.