Arkle the main target for Lalor after impressive Cheltenham triumph

Lalor measures another fence perfectly on his way to victory at CheltenhamCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Lalor's seven-length victory in the Racing Post Arkle Trophy Trial on Sunday has convinced connections to change plans, with Cheltenham, rather than the Grand National meeting, now this season's main focus.

The Kayley Woollacott-trained six-year-old has skipped the festival for the last two seasons and been kept for Aintree, where he won the Grade 2 bumper in 2017 and Grade 1 Top Novices' Hurdle in April.

Connections had planned his 2018-19 season around a return to Merseyside in April but the Racing Post Arkle in March, for which he is contesting favouritism with Kalashnikov, is now the prime target.

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Stuart RileyDeputy news editor

Published on 19 November 2018inNews

Last updated 17:51, 19 November 2018

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