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Maggio and Saphir Du Rheu put Grand National claims to the test

Saphir Du Rheu: bidding to give Paul Nicholls back to back wins in Ivan Straker Memorial Chase at Kelso
Saphir Du Rheu: bidding to give Paul Nicholls back to back wins in Ivan Straker Memorial Chase at KelsoCredit: Phil Mingo/Pinnacle

3.00 Kelso
Ivan Straker MemoriaL Chase | 2m7f | ATR

If any Grand National trial deserves strong support it is this one, run in the memory of a man who did much to keep the Aintree contest the race it is.

Ivan Straker, who died four years ago, was a great supporter of jump racing and used his position as chief executive of then Grand National sponsor Seagram UK to maintain the prestige of the race.

While many National trials feature double-figure fields the fourth running of this memorial race has again drawn just four runners, but it will have Aintree contenders in the shape of Irish challenger Maggio and Saphir Du Rheu.

Patrick Griffin will find plenty out about the chances of Maggio, who has been handed an Aintree weight of 10st 8lb, 6lb less than Saphir Du Rheu, but he has to give the Stewart family's chaser 6lb on Thursday.

Griffin said: "I don't see any reason as to why he can't run a good race back over fences but I expect him to improve again after this. His main aim all season has been the Aintree Grand National.

"I'm delighted to see he'll get a run in the race this year as he was balloted out last year. He's in great fettle and we continue to live the dream with him. Let's hope we can burst a few bubbles."

Paul Nicholls, who won this race with Unioniste last year, said: "It's a nice race for Saphir Du Rheu with everything in his favour to build his confidence and he's getting the allowances."

Firth Of The Clyde and Bernardelli have something to find but are guaranteed some prize-money granted a safe round.

Bernardelli's trainer Nicky Richards said: "We thought there wouldn't be many runners, though not as few as four, and it's a shame for the track.

"He's in good form, acts on the track and loves the ground, but whether he's good enough to beat the Nicholls runner is another thing."

Firth Of The Clyde picked up a leg infection which ruled him out of his target of the veterans' chase series final at Sandown last month.

Trainer Malcolm Jefferson said: "He's got to start somewhere and the track and ground will be find for him. He won a Carlisle veterans' qualifier last year, which he will go for again after this."

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