One For Arthur goes straight to Aintree after being withdrawn at Kelso

The 2017 Grand National winner One For Arthur will head straight to Aintree after being withdrawn from the Listed Belhaven Brewery Premier Chase at Kelso on Saturday.

The ten-year-old, who has failed to finish on his two starts this season, was taken out half an hour before the race on account of the ground. The contest was won by Blue Flight, who turned over long odds-on favourite Black Corton.

His trainer Lucinda Russell said: "Alizee De Janeiro won the novice handicap and she's a mare who likes decent ground so the theory is that if it's suitable for her, it wouldn't be suitable for Arthur.

"It's beautiful ground out there but Arthur wants it soft. He'll now go straight for Aintree. When he won the National he hadn't had a run for a while so it doesn't worry me, though it would've been nice if he'd got round in a race this season."

There had been rain forecast at Kelso but it did not materialise until shortly before the race and made no appreciable difference to the going.

One For Arthur was on Saturday a top-priced 40-1 for the Randox Health Grand National on April 6.

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