Our Gallops Reporter has the latest from the Nigel Twiston-Davies yard as Blaklion continues his preparation for Aintree.
BLAKLION earned his place at the forefront of the Grand National market with a battling display in the trial for that race at Haydock.
The Nigel Twiston-Davies trained gelding had to play second fiddle to Vieux Lion Rouge following a protracted battle up the home straight.
The pair are viewing for outright favouritism in the Randox Health-sponsored marathon and Blaklion delighted his trainer in some midweek work at Guiting Power.
He excelled in the way he grabbed the deep Fibresand surface to pull away from his lead horse and is clearly in majestic form ahead of his Saturday week mission.
BALLYOPTIC showed up for a long way in the Stayers' Hurdle at the Festival before weakening.
His form at this time of year gives him an each-way chance in the Liverpool Stayers' Hurdle at Aintree for which he worked enthusiastically in a batch that came up the strip in single file.
THE NEW ONE wasn't able to turn back the clock in the Champion Hurdle in which he ran well to a point.
He has come out of that race well and will step up in trip at Aintree to take in the Betway Aintree Hurdle.
BRISTOL DE MAI was no match for Sizing John and Co in the Gold Cup but the Mildmay course and fences should suit him better when he reappears in the Betway Bowl.
The grey leads the string up the main strip and looked on top of his game in his midweek work.
Twiston-Davies has chances at the smaller tracks this week and one to note is MUCKLE ROE if the eight-year-old heads to Uttoxeter.
