Grand National hope Blaklion delights Phil Kirby in racecourse workout

Big-money buy Blaklion warmed up for the Randox Health Grand National and made his first public appearance since joining Phil Kirby with a post-race workout at Wetherby on Tuesday.

The 2017 National fourth, who won the Becher Chase at Aintree later that year, was bought out of Nigel Twiston-Davies's yard by Darren Yates for £300,000 plus VAT last month.

He was ridden by his National partner Sean Quinlan as he went two circuits of the track with a stablemate in a workout that delighted his new trainer.

"That was just what we wanted," Kirby said. "We came for a strong canter, we weren't trying to win any races. We tried not to do too much but enough to get a nice blow into him.

"I'm trying to keep him fresh. We half thought about giving him a race but this was the plan just to freshen him up, to have a nice gallop round and finish hard on the bridle.

"He enjoyed himself and Sean was happy; he said he feels well. We just need to keep him in one piece now."

Blaklion is a best-priced 50-1 for the National and Kirby said: "He has form at the track and the ground is going to dry up, which should help him as well, so fingers crossed."

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