Phil Kirby eyeing Red Rum Chase at Aintree for star mare Lady Buttons

Lady Buttons is set to switch to fences at Aintree's Grand National meeting next month following her fourth-placed finish in the OLBG Mares' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The versatile mare had been considered for the Champion Chase but trainer Phil Kirby opted for the mares' contest and she came home 16½ lengths behind winner Roksana after making up ground from off the pace.

Kirby has identified the Grade 3 Red Rum Handicap Chase as the next target and hopes Lady Buttons still has more to give following her four valuable victories in a stellar season.

"Lady Buttons has come out of Cheltenham well and will probably go for the Red Rum over fences at Aintree," said Kirby.

"She has a chase mark of 149, which is high enough for any horse, but she won off 140 at Newbury in December and looked like she had plenty in hand."

Assessing her performance at the festival, the trainer added: "I was more keen to run over hurdles as I thought it was the race she was more likely to win, but she didn't travel at Cheltenham like she did earlier in the season.

"I don't know whether she loses a bit of her sharpness as the season goes on, but we'll freshen her up and the return to a flatter track might suit her better."

Kirby has an ace to play in Aintree's showpiece contest with Blaklion gearing up for the Randox Health Grand National after his recent transfer from the Nigel Twiston-Davies stable.

"It was never the plan to go to Cheltenham with Blaklion and hopefully we'll get him to Aintree very fresh," the trainer said. "Everything's gone to plan so far, he's done loads of steady work and is really well."

Trevor Hemmings' chances of a fourth Grand National victory appeared to improve during Cheltenham, with Vintage Clouds and Lake View Lad finishing second and third behind Beware The Bear in the Ultima Handicap Chase.

The leading owner's racing manager Mick Meagher said: "Both ran smashing races and you couldn't be happier with them, apart from if one of them had won. They've galloped with plenty of enthusiasm and jumped well and both will go to Aintree."

Vintage Clouds missed the cut by one place in last year's National and is 61st on the list this time. He is a 16-1 shot generally, while Rowland Meyrick winner Lake View Lad is a best-priced 25-1 with Ladbrokes.

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