Hemmings on mark as bid for fourth Grand National looms

This time next week Trevor Hemmings will be gearing up to win a fourth Grand National with Vicente, but little fish can be sweet as well and he will have been chuffed to see Longtown win the maiden hurdle under Richard Johnson.

Trained by Philip Hobbs, Longtown – a soft-ground staying chaser in the making – disappointed at Exeter in January but was not right afterwards and a line can be drawn through that, according to Mick Meagher, Hemmings' racing manager, who confirmed Brian Hughes would ride Vicente in the Randox Health-sponsored Aintree marathon.

Hedgehunter, Ballabriggs and Many Clouds have carried the leading owner's white, green and yellow silks to victory in the National and Vicente, trained by Paul Nicholls, can be backed at 25-1 to deliver a fourth success.