SIDE with Lo Stregone to complete the double in the Greenalls Grand National Trial at Haydock today.
Tom Tate's dour stayer has everything going for him in the extended three and a half mile event which he won last year.
He performs with give in the ground, benefits from extreme distances and loves the course as he proved when wearing down long time leader Tartan Tyrant on the run in in the race last year.
The pair finished well clear of the ill fated Willsford and the performance of Lo Stregone caused backers to ensure the gelding took the lead in the antepost lists for the Martell Grand National.
That he did not reaeh Aintree due to running a temperature has been well documented and the setback may have been the reason he was unable to get in a blow on the winner when finishing a well beaten fourth to Moorcroft Boy in the Scottish version of the race at Ayr.
Lo Stregone has pleased his quietly spoken Yorkshire trainer in his two outings so far this term when finishing in third place behind Coome Hill in Newbury's Hennessy Gold Cup and in a similar position behind Seven Towers up at Kelso last month.
The latter form was franked last week when Mary Reveley's charge landed the Eider Chase at Newcastle.
Normally blinkered, the son of The Parson had the blinds off at Kelso. They are part of the kit once again today and can help Lo Stregone concentrate and take the prize, hopefully en route to bigger things at Aintree.
Major Bell made a remarkable start to his chasing career, winning the first five of his starts over fences.
Alistair Whillan's charge has failed to keep up that kind of consistency this term but has shown he is still on the upgrade and after a brief respite from a busy start to the season he can prove his well being by landing the Black Death Vodka Handicap Chase.
It looks possible that Racing Post day at Kempton could turn into a benefit for trainer David Nicholson.
Although the yard's first jockey Adrian Maguire has plumped for the leg up on Call It A Day, preference is given to the Norman Williamson ridden Percy Smollett to go one better than when second to Rough Quest in this race last year.
But Maguire can get his share of the glory as stable star Viking Flagship bids to repeat lasts year's victory in the Emhlem Chase on his way to the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Festival.
Other Nicholson trained horses who can oblige at the Sunbury track today include the unbeaten Sanmartino in the opening Doveeote Novices' Hurdle and Pharanear in the Rendlesham Hurdle.
