Pauling mulls Grand National challenge for 'most obvious contender' Slipway

Sunday: Fontwell

Slipway's authoritative Southern National victory for the owners of Grand National hero Aldaniti left trainer Ben Pauling contemplating a trip to Aintree in the spring.

The feature 3m3½f contest developed into a scrappy affair, with Southfield Harvest making such a significant hole in the third fence that it had to be bypassed thereafter in a race in which only five of the 11 runners made it home.

The Luca Morgan-ridden Slipway remained unruffled, smoothly running down front-runner Premiumaccess and score by three and a quarter lengths.

Pauling said: "He was great. He wasn't fully wound up, so I was delighted he could go and win. He's certainly the most obvious Grand National contender I've ever had."

"If he keeps progressing then he could well feature in something like that, but he's a young horse and he's not the finished article yet."

Pauling and Morgan notched a double when Quinta Do Mar claimed a second consecutive success in the Salmon Spray Handicap on his hurdling return, with Pauling hailing the "real guts" demonstrated by the seven-year-old gelding.

Sherwood at the double

After a successful Saturday with Queens Gamble triumphing at Cheltenham, Oliver Sherwood enjoyed an equally productive Sunday with a double courtesy of Maclaine and Ballaquane.

Maclaine, returning after a 298-day break in the 2m½f novice hurdle, struggled at times to find a rhythm but was always doing enough to hold off Gold In Doha and lose his maiden tag at the fourth attempt.

Sherwood said: "It's a case of job done. I haven't got any set plans for him, although I think he'd be better up in trip."

Ballaquane won the 2m5½f handicap chase, staying on best in an attritional finish under Brendan Powell to beat Dindin into second.

Results, replays and analysis

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